Meet Our Team

OCA National Center staff run programs, conduct policy and advocacy work, and support our chapters nationwide.

THU NGUYEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thu Nguyen (she/her) serves OCA National as its Executive Director. A graduate from Rice University with degrees in Chemistry and Sociology, Thu found her way into the nonprofit sector through organizing Asian American students on campus and bridging partnerships between student groups and local Houston community organizations. She curated the first Asian American student art gallery at Rice, which pioneered the university’s annual underground Asian American art exhibition. Before OCA, she freelanced for non-profits and Asian-owned start-ups to do community outreach and social media marketing.

In her capacity, Thu oversees storytelling, relationships, and operations for OCA. She brings a unique understanding of grassroots organizing and design to her work in managing grants and fundraisers. She serves as the Chair of the Asian American Media Alliance and sits on the diversity, equity, and inclusion council for Charter.

With her spare time, Thu focuses on the intersection of advocacy with small businesses. She works 5-9 in hospitality, cosmetology, and zine-making. You can find her exploring how to spacemake via thudawin.org.

Thu can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 5 or TNguyen@ocanational.org.


KEN LEE, CEO EMERITUS

Ken Lee (he/him) is a retired UPSer after 37 years. Ken started as a part-time employee while he was in college in 1971. Ken retired in 2008 as the Vice President of Security for UPS’s International and later U.S. Operations. He was the first Asian Pacific American (APA) to attain the title of Vice President and was one of the highest ranking APAs at UPS. A leading activist for Asian community affairs at UPS, Ken was a mentor and role model for other Asian employees and served on UPS’s corporate diversity committee.

Ken serves as the CEO Emeritus of OCA, an Asian advocacy organization that has had a long-term relationship with a number of large multinational corporations across the United States. Over the years Ken served in several other OCA capacities including the OCA Georgia Chapter President, OCA National EVP and OCA National President. In addition, Ken currently serves on the Comcast NBC Universal as Chair of the Asian Diversity Advisory Council, member of Charter Diversity Council and member of the AT&T Consumer Advisory Panel.

Due in part to his success in his career, his active role in the OCA, and his involvement with many community organizations in the Georgia area, Ken was selected by UPS to be the recipient of the OCA National Asian Pacific American Corporate Achievement Award. Ken was also honored by "Who’s Who in Asian American Communities”, Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business and LEAP’s Leadership Award.

Ken was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. He now lives in Henderson, NV with his wife Ashley and their daughter, Vincy.

Ken can be reached at KLee@ocanational.org.


KELLY XU TIAN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Kelly Tian (she/her) has been with OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates for 15 years. Born and raised in Beijing, China, she moved to United States in 1996 with her husband. 

Currently, Kelly resides in Columbia, Maryland with her husband and younger son, who is a sophomore at Oakland Mill High School. Her older son is re-settled nearby her home. Kelly’s daily job is to oversee the OCA financial books and office day-to-day operating. Kelly also ensures the administration of the organization's invoices, revenue processes, and Tax Auditing. 

Kelly can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 8 or KXTian@ocanational.org.


KENT TONG, MANAGER OF PROGRAMS

Kent Tong (he/him) oversees OCA’s youth programs, including high school and college leadership and advocacy trainings, scholarships, and internships.

Kent was born and raised in the Greater New Orleans Area to Vietnamese refugee parents. An alumnus from Loyola University New Orleans, majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Film Studies, Kent dedicated his time outside the classroom to various Vietnamese-interest organizations. It's through his experiences as Executive Director of Camp Delta, President of the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations Gulf Coast, and President of the Loyola Asian Student Organization where Kent developed a passion in youth development and programming.

Prior to joining OCA, Kent was a volunteer staff member of The 2020 Project, 2017 Jubilee Project Fellow, and 2014 Disney College Program Cast Member. In his free time he enjoys watching movies in theatres, usually one or two every weekend, writing reviews on his blog, and baking Ted Lasso biscuits.

Kent can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 9 or kent.tong@ocanational.org.


LADY MARIE BULILAN, CHAPTER AND MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Lady Marie Bulilan (she/her) serves as the Chapter and Membership Development Manager for OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. In this position, she acts as primary liaison with all OCA chapters to fulfill their potential to grow by supplying resources from the National Center, supporting initiatives for chapter growth through workshops, training, and programs, and maintaining membership records for each chapter. Lady also works to bring more members into OCA and build a stronger community to advocate for all AAPI’s.

Lady was born in New York, raised in New Jersey, and grew up in Florida. Though she originally studied nursing - a common track in her Filipino community - Lady decided to change her major and receive a Bachelor’s degree in History, focusing on American history, museum studies, civil rights, and social justice/inequality at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Lady would like to be a part of the movement towards building a National Asian American History Museum to create and curate exhibits that share the rich and strong history that AAPI’s have contributed to this country for centuries.

In her free time, she likes to watch feel-good movies and TV shows, discover music for her Spotify playlists, try out different recipes, and learn languages!

Lady can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 2 or lady.m.bulilan@ocanational.org.


ANDREW PENG, COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Andrew Peng (he/him) is a Communications Associate at OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. He works in collaboration with policy and programs staff to amplify key initiatives and is responsible for the development and implementation of OCA’s communications strategy. A San Diego, California native, Andrew is passionate about amplifying AAPI voices and improving the public engagement capabilities of the federal government, nonprofits, and civic organizations.

Prior to joining OCA full-time, Andrew served as an intern at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Rutgers University’s Office of Leadership and Experiential Learning. In 2020, he was placed at the NAACP’s Washington Bureau through OCA’s 2020 summer internship program before working as a civic engagement communications intern at OCA National Center.

Outside of OCA, Andrew is the co-founder of The Yappie, a nationally-recognized publication that covers policy news and activism affecting AAPI communities. His coverage has been featured in Business Insider, Politico, PBS NewsHour, Yahoo News, and elsewhere.

Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic public communication and political science from Rutgers University—New Brunswick. In his free time, he enjoys tweeting, photography, and eating soup dumplings.

Andrew can be reached at andrew.peng@ocanational.org.


HOJIN KIM, SENIOR OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS ASSOCIATE

Hojin Kim (he/him) is the Senior Operations and Programs Associate at OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. His primary responsibilities in the organization include coordinating logistics of upcoming national events, ensuring that all of our programs come to fruition, and assisting other staff members with managing their programs and portfolios. Born in South Korea and raised in Japan, Hojin received his bachelor’s degree in Global Affairs with a Concentration in Global Inequalities and Responses in the Spring of 2021 and became the first generation in his family to graduate from college in the United States. Despite being an immigrant from South Korea, he is passionate about combating issues surrounding Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and advocating for their rights and justice.

During his time as an undergrad at George Mason University (GMU), Hojin worked with a few faculty members at GMU as a student assistant to build a foundation for AAPI Studies Minor. One of the activities he facilitated was a focus group session where he received feedback from students to see their needs and interests for the program. He also served as a chapter president of an Asian-interest fraternity on campus to raise Asian awareness on campus. For example, he organized an educational event about AAPI culture, history, and the recent increase in the number of hate crimes against Asian Americans reported in the U.S.

In his free time, he enjoys singing karaoke, traveling to new places, eating Korean BBQ, and spending quality time with his friends.

Hojin can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 3 or hojin.kim@ocanational.org.


CAROLINE BUARON, SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Caroline Buaron (she/her) serves as the Development Associate for OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. In this capacity, she works alongside the national team to gather data and prepare grant reports, coordinates policy webinars and briefings with the Policy team, and assists the Communications team on marketing and outreach copywriting. A proud Filipina-American from New Jersey, Caroline hopes to be a part of the effort in disaggregating Asian American and Pacific Islander data in order to create and recommend policies that justly represent each distinct community.

As an undergraduate, Caroline has worked as a Voting Engagement Intern with North Carolina Asian Americans Together, a Census Intern with OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates, and as a Field Intern for a congressional campaign. From 2018-2020, she established the first Liberty in North Korea at North Carolina State University where she and her team organized events to enhance refugee awareness. She has also spearheaded service events as Philanthropy Chair for the Filipino American Student Association at NC State, and served as Logistics Chair for the Triangle-Area Asian American Student Conference, where she coordinated financial and programming logistics for keynote speakers and workshop applicants.

In her free time, Caroline enjoys film photography, journaling, traveling with friends, and chasing sunsets. 

Caroline can be reached at (202) 223-5500 ext. 1 or caroline.buaron@ocanational.org.


SOCHEATA SUN, COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Socheata Sun (She/Her) is a Communications Associate at OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. In her role, she collaborates closely with the policy team to advance the organization’s objectives through strategic messaging and marketing. Her responsibilities include writing press releases and social media posts, creating promotional materials, managing social media accounts, and overseeing email communications.

Born in Cambodia and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles, California, Socheata is a proud graduate of the University of California, Riverside. She holds degrees in History and Liberal Studies, with a minor in Political Science. Before joining OCA, she gained valuable experience as a communications intern and staff assistant for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where she contributed to advocating for the interests and improving the lives of Hispanic Americans. Socheata is passionate about continuing the fight for people of color during her tenure at OCA.

In her free time, Socheata enjoys catching up on her YouTube subscriptions, watching movies, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Socheata can be reached at socheata.sun@ocanational.org.


ERIC KIM, POLICY & ORGANIZING MANAGER

Eric Kim (he/him) is the Policy & Organizing Manager at OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. Eric is an alumnus of UCI with Bachelors of Arts in both Art History and Asian American Studies and a minor in History; Eric moved to the District of Columbia to attend CUA Law. While attending CUA Law, he completed internships in various general counsel’s offices in both the private and non-profit sectors. Eric completed his legal education at CUA Law with certificates from the Law and Technology Institute and the Compliance, Investigations, and Corporate Responsibility Program as well as serving in various leadership roles in student organizations including being elected to serve as Vice of President of Student Affairs for CUA Law’s Student Bar Association.

Most recently Eric was an APAICS Racial Equity Fellow placed in the House Financial Services working closely with the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion. Having grown up in Irvine, CA surrounded by Asian American peers, Eric is excited to advocate and work for a community he has deep pride and fondness for belonging to.

In his free time, he enjoys cooking, volleyball, all things X-Men comics, long walks through DC and the occasional video game session.

Eric can be reached at eric.kim@ocanational.org.


CHRISTIAN PHOMSOUVANH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Christian Phomsouvanh (they/them) serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. In this position, they are the lead coordinator for organizing around the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). This program is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that provides a monthly discount on internet service and a one-time device discount for qualifying households. Working alongside a team of Fellows and the OCA chapters, their efforts promote digital accessibility and inclusivity. 

Christian’s passions stem from cultivating community connections. Through grassroots organizing at various capacities, their work is at the intersections of art, environment, and identity. They re-established the Asian and Pacific Islander student organizations that were once one collective but now two separate entities to continue the work of disaggregating Asian American and Pacific Islander data. They have also worked in coalition and nonprofit spaces advocating for Climate and Gender Justice within communities of color. Christian engages themselves with the OCA - Utah chapter as well as serving on the planning committee for the Utah Asian Festival. 

With their spare time, you can find Christian gathering around family, friends, food, and fashion. 

Christian holds a bachelor’s degree in Botany and Plant Ecology with emphasis in Anthropology and Chemistry from Weber State University.

Christian can be reached at christian.phomsouvanh@ocanational.org.


LINH TRUONG, SUMMER INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR

Linh Truong (she/they) serves OCA National as the Summer Internship Coordinator, where she develops and manages the OCA Summer Internship Program. A recent graduate from Georgetown University with a degree in Sociology and Women & Gender Studies, they aim to build cross-racial and ethnic solidarity between communities via art, storytelling, and advocacy work. Linh first got involved with AAPI organizing at the Georgetown University Vietnamese Student Association. From there, they participated in the 2022 OCA Summer Internship Program, leading them to be a Communications Intern at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Linh was also a Design Intern at the Democratic National Committee.

Born to Vietnamese-Chinese immigrant parents in Orange, California, Linh now resides in D.C. with her 12-year-old cat Kayla. You can also find Linh sharing her experiences as a queer, Asian American 20-something with over 1.7 million people across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. In their free time, Linh enjoys reading, watching films, and painting.

Linh can be reached at linh.truong@ocanational.org.

Executive Council

The Executive Council (EC) is the executive body of OCA’s National Board. Chaired by the National President, the EC is responsible for the implementation of policies and programs. Members are elected by the National Board, with the exception of the General Counsel, the Executive Director, and Immediate Past President.

LINDA NG, NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Linda (she/her/hers) is the OCA National President. She is a past president of the OCA Sacramento Chapter (2003-07) and continues to serve as the Chapter Advisor. Linda is an active community advocate where she helps like-minded AAPI organizations develop grassroots advocacy initiatives. Presently, she serves as an Ethics Commissioner for the City of Sacramento to ensure elected and appointed officials are in compliance with the city's ethics laws and policies. Prior to that, she was a two-term gubernatorial appointee to the California Fair Employment Housing Commission that enforced the CA civil rights law.

She has received many distinguished awards and recognitions for her leadership and advocacy effort including a Community Service Award from the Asian Bar Association of Sacramento Law Foundation, and a President’s Award from the Asian Pacific State Employees Association.

Linda received her Bachelor degree in Business Management from the University of San Francisco and Executive Leadership Certification from the University of California, Davis. She retired from the State of California after a long career in financial and risk management. Now she applies her diverse leadership skills and professional expertise as an IRS enrolled agent and a tax advisor in representing and assisting small business clients with their income tax matters


SHARON M. WONG, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Sharon M. Wong returned in 2017 as the National President for OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice and civil rights advocacy organization for which she was National President in 2013 – 2014. She is a past Chair of the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN), an organization of federal APA executives; and a Past President of the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC). Ms. Wong served on the Maryland Commission for Women, and recently on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Board of Governors. She is a lifetime member of Blacks in Government (BIG) and the Federally Employed Women (FEW)

Ms. Wong has received the NASA/KSC Equal Opportunity Award, the Astronaut Silver Snoopy Award, and an Outstanding Leadership Award from NASA/GSFC. She has also been recognized by external organizations such as AAGEN with the Stanley Suyat Memorial Leadership Award, and the Community Catalyst Award by the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA). She has a B.S. in Physics, a M.S. in Engineering Systems Analysis from the University of Central Florida (UCF), and a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University.


DEBBIE CHEN, EXECUTIVE VP

Deborah Y. Chen is an immigration attorney at The Law Offices of Deborah Y. Chen & Associates and longtime community activist for the past 20+ years. She is an expert in Small, Minority, Woman, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SMWDBE) Government Contracting Programs and Supplier Diversity. She is the former Sr. Executive Staff Analyst at the City of Houston MayorÕs Office of Affirmative Action & Contract Compliance and worked to promote equal opportunities, fair treatment, and capacity building for SMWDBEs and was Division Manager for MWDBE & Affirmative Action at the Human Relations Department of the City of Kansas City, MO. Debbie has been an active member of the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since attending the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and advocating for an Asian American Studies Center and the importance of UT to consider the needs/concerns of AAPI students in UT hiring of counselors at the student counseling center and inclusion of AAPIs in scholarship considerations.

She received her JD from South Texas College of Law and is a recipient of the Lyndon B. Johnson Civil Rights Award, State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Distinguished Service Award, and the Garnet F. Coleman AmeriCorps Civic Volunteer Award. She serves on the Board of OCA-Greater Houston Chapter where she co-founded the Houston AAPI Film Festival Committee and co-organizes the OCA-GH Advocacy Center’s monthly Citizenship Workshops, pro-bono legal resource guide, and bi-annual National Asian Pacific American Elections Exit Survey Houston sites and GOTV efforts.


Thong Tarm, SECRETARY

Thong is a member of the OCA St. Louis chapter. Born in Vietnam, Thong Tarm’s family immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s. He is a graduate of Lindenwood University, with a bachelor in information technology and a masters in business administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.


Jess Ayden Li, TREASURER

As social justice activist, certified diversity coach, and consultant, Jess works to create cultures of equity, inclusion, and belonging in nonprofits and philanthropy. She has 15+ years of nonprofit experience working in the anti-violence movement with refugees, immigrants, and BIPOC communities.

She has held multiple Executive Director (ED) positions including as the ED of San Francisco SafeHouse and the A/PI Domestic Violence Resource Project in Washington, D.C. Jess also has experience working for the United Nations Mission in Sudan and the International Rescue Committee.

Jess is a proud New Yorker currently based in Oakland, CA. She co-founded the API Giving Project and is on the board of the Asian Women’s Shelter. In her free time, Jess trains dogs, travels, and hangs out with Hansyn and Kobe, her two rescue pups.


ERIC LIN, VP OF FINANCE

Eric Lin is Principal of The VIE Group, a business development and real estate consulting firm in Richmond Virginia. Prior to his current position, Eric was the Owner and Director of Operations of Sunrise Enterprises, the mid-Atlantic’s largest wholesale orchid nursery.

Eric attended Virginia Tech where he earned a B.S. in Materials Engineering with a specialization in ceramic composites which afforded him the opportunity to work on NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

Eric has deep connections to the community and is the 2020 recipient of the Ukrop’s Community Vision Award presented by Leadership Metro Richmond. Eric is deeply committed to the community and has served on several community boards. During his 20+ years of community service, he has served on more than a dozen boards and notably as a two term Chair of the Virginia Asian Advisory Board where he served four governors.

In addition to his role with OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates, Eric currently serves as the Community Engagement Director for the Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance of Central Virginia; board member at the YMCA of Greater Richmond; board member at The Commonwealth Institute; member of the Equity Committee for Chesterfield County Public Schools; and as an appointee to the Advisory Board for the Virginia Office of New Americans.


DAVID FUNG, VP OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

David Fung is a native New Yorker, an independent management strategy consultant, an Adjunct Professor at Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business and an Associate at Columbia University. Previously, David was an executive at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and served in a variety of assignments for nearly three decades.  Several of these corporate assignments included expatriate leadership roles in Asia. 

David received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering at MIT.  He subsequently attended Columbia University where he earned his Master of Science in chemical engineering and an MBA (General Management).

David is a long-time member of OCA having joined in the early 1990’s and has served the organization in many national and local chapter leadership positions.  Besides OCA National, he is currently on the board of the local OCA New York Chapter.  David strongly believes that organizations like OCA are a tremendous asset in giving voice to social justice, advocacy, and equal opportunity within the Asian American community and, indeed, the broader community.  Besides OCA, David also serves on several other organizational and community boards.


KENDALL KOSAI, VP OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Kendall Kosai is OCA’s Vice President of Public Affairs where he helps lead the organization’s general advocacy strategy and public policy focus.

In his professional capcity, he serves as the Director of Policy for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Western Division, overseeing legislative advocacy and policy for ten states. ADL is a national civil rights organization dedicated toward combating hate and antisemitism, promoting equity, and securing justice and fair treatment for all. His portfolio includes leading a comprehensive legislative strategy, supporting field offices in key political issues, engaging with elected officials, and strengthening the organization’s civic engagement efforts.

Prior to coming to the ADL, Kendall was the Deputy Director for OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates and a Senior Reporter at the North American Post, the largest and oldest Japanese American newspaper in the Northwest.

Kendall is a Washington State Commissioner on Asian Pacific American Affairs, appointed by Governor Inslee in 2021 where he serves as Chair for the Civil Rights & Immigration Committee. He is also the current President of White River Buddhist Temple and a member of the US-Japan Council. He is a fourth generation Japanese American native to the Pacific Northwest and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Japanese Language.


EMILIO MANUEL CAMU, VP OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE

Emilio Manuel Camu (he/they/siya) is a Tagalog-Bikolnon Filipino descendant of farmers, healers, cooks, and educators based in Salt Lake City. For the past 12 years, he has been involved in the Asian Pacific Islander communities and organizations in the state of Utah. He is an alumnus of the University of Utah where he obtained his MEd in Educational Leadership & Policy and worked with first-gen, low-income, students of color; he now serves as the Director for the First-Gen Student Success Center at Utah Valley University.

Mr. Manuel Camu’s community involvement includes OCA Utah where he served as president in 2019, serving on the State of Utah’s Multicultural Commission, co-founding the Filipino American National Historical Society Utah Chapter, as Director for the Pilipino American Association of Utah, the Utah Asian Festival, and the Asian Link Project. He is also passionate about traditional dance and is involved with the Kulturang Pilipino Ensemble of Utah, Jung Hing Lion Dance Club, and Khemera Dance Troupe.


LOLA AKERIPA, VP OF MEMBERSHIP


JUNE JEE, VP OF CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT

June Jee is currently a community affairs and strategic partnership consultant as well as a volunteer for many community organizations. As an active member and volunteer in the community, June currently serves on various boards to include the Museum of Chinese in America, Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation, United East Athletics Association, Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-NY and OCA National), and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies.

In December, 2011, June retired from her position as the Director of Government and External Affairs at Verizon. Specifically, June led all government, legislative and community affairs in NYC. In this capacity, she was responsible for securing Verizon’s short-term objectives and advancing its long-term goals by communicating with key internal and external audiences and positioning the company’s strategic direction, progress towards targeted goals and advancements in products and services. June was also responsible for philanthropic strategy, grant-making and initiatives in the foundation’s issue areas of literacy and education, health and safety and employee volunteerism.

June accomplished much in her career. She served in a variety of positions, including Customer Service, Medium and Large Business, Outreach and Education, and Ethnic & Premium Markets, where she was responsible for planning, development, implementation and events marketing in the ethnic market segment. June also served in the Strategic Alliances organization with responsibilities that included establishing and maintaining national third-party stakeholder relations and issues management. In addition, June was the National President of the Asian Pacific Employees for eXcellence (APEX) of Verizon, an employee resource organization which addresses the professional needs of Asian-American employees in Verizon.

June received her B.A. in Art from the City University of New York and received her Corporate Community Relations Certification from Boston College.


CECILIA PHAM, VP OF COMMUNICATIONS

Cecilia Pham is a Community Outreach Manager at the Houston Public Library. Cecilia was formerly the Volunteer Manager for the Meals On Wheels Program at Interfaith Ministries, the Regional Volunteer Services Officer for the American Red Cross - Texas Gulf Coast Region, where she managed volunteers from the border of Louisiana to the border of Mexico and was also the former Individual Giving and Special Events Manager at Project Row Houses, an African American Arts organization, located in the Third Ward. She has also held positions of Executive Director for the Liberty Legacy Foundation, and worked for Congressman Nick Lampson. In addition, Cecilia is a past president of OCA Greater Houston Chapter, and has served as Secretary for the Youth Leadership Council. Cecilia holds several BAs and an MA from the University of Houston.