ACA Board Members 2026
PRESIDENT
Olivia Tian
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Olivia Tian Olivia Tian came to the U.S. in 1996 to pursue her graduate education at Georgia Tech. She had over 25 years of product and marketing leadership experience as a high-tech executive and entrepreneur.
Olivia is also an education advocate – volunteered on multiple local school, education and non-profit boards, including FIRST Robotics and the Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair. Olivia was the recipient of FIRST Compass Award (Coach of the Year) with more than a decade of coaching FLL and FTC robotics teams. Olivia is an API Community Leader – led pandemic fundraising to donate thousands of 3D-printed face shields to frontline workers; organized several Stop Asian Hate protests drawing thousands; and mentored students through the ACA Journalism Internship and Pac Art Internship programs to elevate Asian American voices. |
VICE PRESIDENT
Christine Gao
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Christine Gao, Ph.D., has been working as a telecom semiconductor professional for 20+ years. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of technology, delivering the world’s best algorithm and design while contributing to the standard.
In recent years, Christine has committed her spare time to community service. She actively contributes to local professional organizations by serving on advisory boards, volunteering as a judge for the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair, and overseeing several student-founded nonprofit organizations. Her experience leading a COVID-19 relief volunteer team in 2020 deepened her understanding of the impact of a united, passionate community. Christine is a strong advocate of equal opportunities for all and is interested in serving underprivileged groups. Christine obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University and Ph.D degree from University of Florida. |
VICE PRESIDENT
Ying Yang
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Ying Yang is a stay-at-home mother and community volunteer. She was a certified Project Management Professional for many years before she resigned to spend more time with her two sons. She has actively volunteered in all of her children’s schools and in her church. She was proud to be the lead advocate to bring the Chinese language course to her sons’ high school, and this year, she co-organized its first Lunar New Year celebration.
Ying dedicated much of her time to building the Asian American parent community in her neighborhood. She also encouraged her API neighbors to participate more in both schools and civic activities. Ying organized a variety of parenting workshops and mentored students to advocate for mental health and wellbeing. One of Ying’s mottos is to “be the change you wish to see in the world.” She has served on the board of several nonpartisan organizations to win equal opportunity and justice for the API community. She supported multiple charitable initiatives, such as fundraising ventilators for hospitals in her hometown of Wuhan, China, and later to donate PPEs to American hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ying was born in China and came to the United States in 1994. She graduated summa cum laude from Boston University and is happily married to her husband, Haibo. They have lived in San Diego for over 20 years. They are enjoying their continuous exploration of the Finest City in the country. |
TREASURER
Yanping Zhang
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Yanping Zhang is an IT professional with years of experience as an IT Business Consultant, helping clients to implement IT business solutions and provides day to day business support.
Yanping graduated from Shandong University and got master’s in Computer Science from Purdue University. Other than the full-time job, she also taught in North County Chinese School in early years; enjoys personal financial literacy campaign through educations, volunteers in Public School PTSA etc. She has lived in San Diego for over 20 years. Yanping is a mother of two. She learned a lot from raising the two daughters. She hopes to continue to learn from all generations of all Americans. She believes not only we can live happily and freely, but also contribute positively to our new country’s future. |
SECRETARY
Hellen Zheng
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Hellen Zheng is a Peer Support Specialist and Family Recovery Coach in the mental health sector in San Diego County, serving individuals and families who are impacted by mental health challenges. Her diverse background includes a 1991 Sociology degree from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, followed by a career as a reporter and editor for several newspapers, including Southern Metropolis Daily. In 2002, she immigrated to Toronto, Canada, and spent 9 years in the social service sector as a Settlement Worker, supporting newcomer students and families in public schools. Since relocating to San Diego in 2014, Hellen has focused her work and dedication on supporting a loved one with special needs and mental health conditions, an experience that has profoundly shaped her life with a renewed purpose.
With a strong belief in community, Hellen is guided by the philosophy of "it takes a village to raise a child" and the vision of a "Beloved Community" championed by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She has actively volunteered in schools and the Chinese community. In her leisure time, Hellen enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and reading. She lives in Scripps Ranch with her husband and they have two grown children. |
MEMBER
Wenge Shi
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Wenge Shi, Ph.D. earned B.Sc. degree in Genetics from Fudan University and Ph.D. degree in Human Oncology from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wenge has lived in San Diego since 2001. Currently he is working on cancer diagnostics and supporting oncology clinical trials at Novartis. For the last 10 years, he has been volunteering in local nonprofit Sino-American Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SABPA). Trained as a scientist, he believes in open-mindedness and objectiveness. He values that the essence of democratic principles is not just enabling the majority ruling but also protecting the rights of minority. In the future, he would like to further help Chinese American community by listening to fellow Chinese Americans’ voices, raising issues relate to Chinese Americans, building consensus among different opinions and finding solutions. 史文格，祖籍浙江宁波，湖北省武汉人, 复旦大学遗传专业学士、美国威斯康星大学(University of Wisconsin-Madison) 人类肿瘤学系博士。目前在某世界著名药厂从事肿瘤诊断产品研发与支持临床药物试验工作。 |
MEMBER
Chenyang Rickard
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Chenyang Rickard is an experienced estate planning attorney in California and one of the first Mandarin-speaking attorneys specializing in estate planning. She is the principal attorney at Rickard Law APC.
She has extensive knowledge in U.S. inheritance laws as well as estate and gift tax laws. Her areas of expertise include revocable and irrevocable trusts, probate, asset protection planning, cross-border and pre-immigration estate planning, Medi-Cal planning and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements. Integrity and honesty are the guiding principle of Attorney Rickard’s practice, and she is dedicated to crafting a tailor-made estate plan and providing exceptional services to her clients. She is a frequent speaker on various Estate Planning topics. Attorney Rickard is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of California. In addition to her J. D. degree, she holds a master’s degree in industrial management, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Prior to pursuing her career as an attorney, Ms. Rickard worked as a reporter for Dalian TV in China. |
MEMBER
Jeff He
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Jeff He, Ph.D., graduated with B.S. in Biology from University of Science and Technology of China in 1985 and came to the United States in 1988. He went to the graduate school at State University of New York where he received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1994. He moved to the West Coast afterwards and did his post-doctoral training in San Diego. He and his family have been living in San Diego since 1994.
Jeff is a business owner in biotech industry. He co-founded Accelagen which is a contract service provider to pharmaceutical industry in medical research. Jeff is the father of two grown children. He and his wife live in Scripps Ranch. Jeff is passionate about serving the Chinese community as well as San Diego - his new home. He has devoted himself to many community activities. He is a strong believer and advocate of American values of liberty, equality, diversity and democracy. |
MEMBER
Xiu Yu
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Xiu Yu, Ph.D. earned her B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from Peking University and Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience from Yale university.
She has lived in San Diego since 1997. Currently she is a biomedical researcher at a pharmaceutical company. She is a cofounder of the nonprofit organization Sino-American Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SABPA). She is interested in helping Chinese American community in raising our voices, learning our history, and listening to the voices of our fellow Americans. |
MEMBER
Alice Yang
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Alice Yang is an independent artist and art educator with a BA in Art Education from Yunnan Arts University.In Beijing, she contributed to the Virtual Museum project at Chinese Academy of Sciences and led youth science-art summer camps. She later taught art for eight years at Grand River Chinese School in the Waterloo region, directing art camps and cultural heritage programs for overseas Chinese youth. Based in San Diego since 2014, She is an active member of San Diego Watercolor Society, while volunteering in cross-cultural art education and creative programs for youth and seniors.
She believes art connects cultures and expands life’s horizons. Alice enjoys hiking and museum visits with her family, stays curious and eager to learn, and hopes to continue contributing to the community as a warm ambassador of art. |
ADVISORY BOARD
Gordon Huang
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Gordon Huang is a freelance IP (Intellectual Property) consultant. Gordon had worked in the past in the telecom industry for over 30 years in various capacities in major telecom companies and a telecom operator. Gordon holds various undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics and electrical engineering/computer science and a J.D degree from University of San Diego, and is admitted to USPTO and California bar.
Gordon is interested in serving all under-privileges regardless of their race and religion through community services，and in furthering the interests of American Chinese in the region. Gordon is a father of two grown up children and lives in San Diego for almost 30 years with his wife, Tina. |
ADVISORY BOARD
Tracy Wu
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Tracy Wu is a retiree from a reputable telecom company with years of experience in program and product management. She is a happy wife and a mom with two children, Kevin and Ellen. Nearly 30 years after she came to this country poor as many Chinese students, she has come to a realization that we all need a helping hand sometimes in our lives. Tracy is now dedicating her effort in serving the community and lending a helping hand to those in need. Through the volunteering services, she hopes to gain more in-depth knowledge and appreciation in cultural diversity of all ethnic groups and become a better self.
She graduated from Zhongshan University with B.S. in Physics, from Science Academy of China in Shanghai with M.S. in Semiconductor Physics, from SDSU with MBA in International Business. |