ACA New Leadership in 2026 and Inaugural Advisory Board
12/5/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) Announces New Leadership and Inaugural Advisory Board, Strengthening Commitment to Community and Civic Engagement
San Diego, CA — The Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) is announcing executive leadership transitions and forming a new advisory board to further its mission of civic impact through multiple flagship youth programs and Educate, Empower, and Engage Asian Americans.
New Executive Board (Jan. 2026–Dec 2027)
The new ACA Executive Board is structured to leverage deep expertise in community service, cultural, and professional management.
President: 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
Christine Gao, Ph.D., continues her service as Vice President. A telecom semiconductor professional with over 20 years of experience, Christine is a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all and is interested in serving underprivileged groups. 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 understanding of community impact was deepened by leading a COVID-19 relief
volunteer team in 2020.
Vice President: Ying Yang
Ying Yang transitions into the Vice President role, having previously served as Secretary. A dedicated community volunteer and former certified Project Management Professional, Ying actively built the Asian American parent community in her neighborhood. She was the lead advocate to bring the Chinese language course to her sons’ high school. Ying has served on the board of several nonpartisan organizations to win equal opportunity and justice for the API community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she supported charitable initiatives by fundraising for ventilators for hospitals in Wuhan, China, and donating PPE to American hospitals.
Treasurer: Yanping Zhang
Yanping Zhang, who served as President for the past two years, will now assume the role of Treasurer. Yanping is an IT professional with years of experience as an IT Business Consultant. Having lived in San Diego for over 20 years, she believes that we can all contribute positively to our new country’s future.
Secretary: Hellen Zheng
Hellen Zheng has been appointed Secretary, having previously served as a Member. Hellen is a Peer Support Specialist and Family Recovery Coach focusing on the mental health sector in San Diego County. She previously worked as a reporter and editor, including for Southern Metropolis Daily. Hellen is guided by the philosophy of "it takes a village to raise a child"; and the vision of a "Beloved Community".
Additional Board Members
The ACA Board is further expanding the board, welcoming new member Alice Yang, an advocate for Chinese culture and art. And the original funding members, Sunny Rickard, J.D. Jeff He, Ph.D. Xiu Yu, Ph.D., and Wenge Shi, Ph.D.
Inaugural Advisory Board
ACA has established a new Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance, with inaugural members Tracy Wu and Gordon Huang, who were the key funding members and served the organization from the very beginning.
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Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) Announces New Leadership and Inaugural Advisory Board, Strengthening Commitment to Community and Civic Engagement
San Diego, CA — The Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) is announcing executive leadership transitions and forming a new advisory board to further its mission of civic impact through multiple flagship youth programs and Educate, Empower, and Engage Asian Americans.
New Executive Board (Jan. 2026–Dec 2027)
The new ACA Executive Board is structured to leverage deep expertise in community service, cultural, and professional management.
President: 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
Christine Gao, Ph.D., continues her service as Vice President. A telecom semiconductor professional with over 20 years of experience, Christine is a strong advocate for equal opportunities for all and is interested in serving underprivileged groups. 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 understanding of community impact was deepened by leading a COVID-19 relief
volunteer team in 2020.
Vice President: Ying Yang
Ying Yang transitions into the Vice President role, having previously served as Secretary. A dedicated community volunteer and former certified Project Management Professional, Ying actively built the Asian American parent community in her neighborhood. She was the lead advocate to bring the Chinese language course to her sons’ high school. Ying has served on the board of several nonpartisan organizations to win equal opportunity and justice for the API community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she supported charitable initiatives by fundraising for ventilators for hospitals in Wuhan, China, and donating PPE to American hospitals.
Treasurer: Yanping Zhang
Yanping Zhang, who served as President for the past two years, will now assume the role of Treasurer. Yanping is an IT professional with years of experience as an IT Business Consultant. Having lived in San Diego for over 20 years, she believes that we can all contribute positively to our new country’s future.
Secretary: Hellen Zheng
Hellen Zheng has been appointed Secretary, having previously served as a Member. Hellen is a Peer Support Specialist and Family Recovery Coach focusing on the mental health sector in San Diego County. She previously worked as a reporter and editor, including for Southern Metropolis Daily. Hellen is guided by the philosophy of "it takes a village to raise a child"; and the vision of a "Beloved Community".
Additional Board Members
The ACA Board is further expanding the board, welcoming new member Alice Yang, an advocate for Chinese culture and art. And the original funding members, Sunny Rickard, J.D. Jeff He, Ph.D. Xiu Yu, Ph.D., and Wenge Shi, Ph.D.
Inaugural Advisory Board
ACA has established a new Advisory Board to provide strategic guidance, with inaugural members Tracy Wu and Gordon Huang, who were the key funding members and served the organization from the very beginning.
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The Alliance of Chinese Americans San Diego (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving the Asian community across San Diego, assisting Asian Americans in achieving the American Dream by fostering an inclusive, diverse, and harmonious society. Guided by its vision, ACA empowers the community to uphold and advance the American values of liberty, equality, diversity, democracy, and unity through civic and community engagement. ACA’s mission is to educate, empower, and engage Asian Americans to strengthen their voices and civic impact.