ELEMENT II
WORKSHOPS
The Element II workshops focus on developing specific skills to help attendees better adjust to a professional setting as well as delving into the special interests and talents of attendees. These workshops will help attendees hone in on skills that will help them succeed in various aspects of their career and explore personal interests to incorporate in their lives or to consider the option as potential career.
See more information on our workshops below!
Friday Workshops
Presenter Name:
Workshop Name:
Description:
Sarah Tran
Success: Habits to Have It (and then some!)
We all have personal and professional ambitions for ourselves, but we’re so overwhelmed by our fears of failure and rejection that we end up procrastinating and pursuing what is safe and comfortable. Over time, we naturally make more excuses to justify the lack of faith in ourselves, but at the end of the day, the ultimate obstacle to overcome is ourselves.
In this workshop, I will open up about my journey to becoming the person I believe I can be, the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and how I’ve grown through building solid habits and adopting a progress not perfection mindset.
Hi! My name is Sarah and I’m a proud Vietnamese-American. I was born in Bronx. NY, raised in Lawrenceville, GA, and now a transplant in Austin, TX. I graduated from the finest school in South land (GO DAWGS!) with a degree in Economics and I’m currently working as a Business Development Consultant at Oracle. As a BDC, I help business and IT leaders uncover and solve problems, educate them about Oracle solutions, and support effective IT strategies. Outside of the office, you can find me up in the gym working on my fitness, exploring Austin’s food and music scene, binging-watching shows on Netflix, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Jimmy Patel-Nguyen
Record Family Stories. Why and How.
This workshop explores topics of family history, cultural heritage, and their influences on our individual identities.
We usually think of history as something that is state organized—you need a nation that has archives as institutions. They write the history books, distribute those books to schools, and we learn our history as students. But history-writing has never been a neutral project.
Because the country of South Vietnam ceased to exist after 1975, the question becomes: how do stateless communities continue to organize their history?
We can start by recording family stories. With enough stories…we can write our own history.
Jimmy Patel-Nguyen is the founder of the REFUGENE project, a child of Vietnamese refugees, and recently became a father.
After graduating from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Master of Global Innovation Management, he began his marketing career as the voice of Under Armour on social media. During that time, Jimmy’s father suffered a heart attack, which motivated him to move closer to his parents in North Carolina and record meaningful conversations with them about their lives.
Over an eight-year marketing career, Jimmy has worked with many brands including Travelocity, Sherwin-Williams, UNC Healthcare, and the NC Museum of Art. His work has generated over one billion impressions on social media, and more importantly, inspired him to launch his own business.
In 2018, Jimmy established REFUGENE: a two-part project that houses a storytelling platform and a cultural apparel brand. His goal is to honor refugees and to leave a legacy that allows his son and future generations to connect with their cultural identity. Jimmy screen prints every shirt by hand, and each design is intended to spark conversations about heritage. The REFUGENE blog is a growing archive of diasporic stories, and the project’s shirts have shipped across the country and internationally.
Maiquynh Ngo
Dating Violence: Let's Talk About It.
Abuse in relationships can be a difficult topic for anyone to talk about, especially young men and women. It is during their college years that young adults begin to form serious romantic relationships and/or continue to grow the romantic relationships they may have started in their teenage years. Yet with a limited understanding of healthy and unhealthy behaviors in dating relationships, college students are susceptible to becoming targets of dating abuse. Dating abuse does not discriminate. It affects people of all races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, genders, and cultures. It affects people regardless of how much money they have or what neighborhood they live in. While the vast majority of abusers are male and most targets (also known as victims or survivors) are female, females can also be abusers and males can be targets of dating abuse.
The bottom line is this: Everyone must get involved in preventing dating abuse and have a better understanding of the resources available to those who are involved in order to help and support them.
Maiquynh Ngo is the Community Against Domestic Violence Training & Outreach Coordinator at BPSOS-Atlanta. She is one of three core staff members of the CADV initiative at BPSOS-Atlanta, which aims to raise awareness on intimate partner violence and family violence among the Vietnamese community in Georgia as well as to provide direct services for victims of abuse. The BPSOS-Atlanta CADV program is the first and only of its kind under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, the only federal grant program supporting direct assistance services to victims and survivors of all types of crimes. Maiquynh graduated with a BBA in Economics from the University of Georgia and an MA in Economics from Georgia State University. Through her internships as a graduate, she’s discovered her passion for helping those under-served and vulnerable in the communities, She also finds zeal in helping and giving back to her roots – the Vietnamese community. As a member of BPSOS-Atlanta, she’s able to serve her community members through various programs such as CADV, assistance for Medicaid, Medicare, Peachcare for Kids, free tax assistance with VITA, immigration services, anti-trafficking advocacy, and the Health Awareness and Prevention Program, which provides free primary care and screenings to uninsured and low-income families. She hopes to gain the insights and experience that will catapult her ability to further recognize and empower the Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese communities alike.
Jason Cun
Business management, Photography, Marketing, Self-confidence, Motivation
Maintaining a professional career and trying to pursue photography as a passion can be tough, but it isn’t impossible. Come learn some techniques on how to do so, while learning how to better your skills in photography and market your work to the world. Learn how to compose your shots, pose models, and capture amazing images without needing an expensive camera.
Jason is a wedding photographer living in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. His photography journey started in 2012 where he picked up his first DSLR. He started taking photos at VSA meetings to now capturing beautiful moments at weddings. He doesn’t have one style or type of photography, rather he pulls many different types of art into one. Influenced by the beauty of the world and the people interacting with it, he aims to capture the moments that will forever be a memory. Whether it’s fashion, wedding, or a day at the beach capturing those moments so people can relive them.
Nikolas Tioseco
SEED Dance Workshop
Join SEED in learning a fun choreography and get your exercise in this weekend! SEED (South East Embodiment of Dance) is a networking group college dance community in Florida and Atlanta, where you can meet other dancers from the region or further your journey in urban dance. Dance events often bring together the Asian community from far and near. Whether you’re an experienced dancer, or not, this workshop is open for all levels! If you ever wanted to try it out now is your chance!
Note: Please wear active cloths and comfortable shoes
Niko is a Co-founder of SEED (South East Embodiment of Dance), an organization that primarily targets the college dance community in Florida and Atlanta. A graduate of Florida State University (May 2018), Niko was heavily involved in various Asian interest groups such as the Asian American Student Union and the Filipino Student Association (FSA). He also lead FSU FSA’s dance team, Capitill State, for 3 years.
Calvin Sun
Chasing Wanderlust: International Travel 101
For Americans –– especially Asian Americans –– travel is inaccurately perceived as a luxury instead of an investment in our growth as young adults. Traditional cultural upbringing in the AAPI community has emphasized that we should be hard-working “homebodies” that should stay close to the family, rather than become fearless explorers. But as our communities become more globalized, Asian Americans must transcend limitations and transform into globally and culturally competent citizens, to communicate with people outside of our immediate circles, and to redefine our narratives relative to an ever-shrinking world.
AAPIs currently constitute the lowest percentage of executive leadership positions in the workforce (aka “The Bamboo Ceiling”). One of the reasons for its existence is due to the stereotype that AAPIs are expected to follow the rules and not assert themselves. To challenge that stereotype, we must invest ourselves as future global leaders and place ourselves outside our comfort zones. We must also learn how to exercise self-care, introspection, and understanding of our potential. Travel is one of the rare practical means left in the world in which we can separate ourselves from the distractions of our parents, society, stereotypes, school, the “next exam”, our cell phones and social media in order to create a brave space and redefine our narratives.
Calvin D. Sun, MD is a practicing Attending Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor specializing in Emergency Medicine, public speaker, phoblographer, social justice activist, dance choreographer, and entrepreneur based in NYC.
Graduating from Columbia University and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine respectively as Class Vice President and President, Dr. Sun was also a host on MTVu’s “The Freshmen” for 4 years and an award winning independent filmmaker. He is known for his films on Asian American stereotypes and body image, the last of which won the inaugural One to Watch Audience Award at the 2007 Asian American International Film Festival. His work has been published in various articles and books, including The American Beauty Industry Encyclopedia.
Calvin afterwards served as President of the Columbia College Young Alumni (CCYA) having overseen the largest growth of the organization, as well as Director of the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU), the oldest and largest ethnic-interest collegiate organization in the country. After 10 years of service on ECAASU, he has the distinction of being the longest serving member in its 40 year history.
Calvin is also the Founder & CEO of The Monsoon Diaries: a travel blog-turned-community that evolved from his solo travels into a business that now organizes and leads affordable group trips. The Monsoon Diaries has fulfilled the dreams of hundreds around the world by taking them to over 170 countries in the past 8 years, including places such as North Korea, Turkmenistan, Nauru, Iraq, and Antarctica. He has garnered the most attention for having achieved this while a full-time medical student and resident physician, proving that travel is still possible for those who have seemingly limited time and money. The Monsoon Diaries has since been featured on BBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, National Geographic, and USA Today.
Calvin recently completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Jacobi + Montefiore Medical Centers in The Bronx, where he had served as the Director of Resident Wellness. He now practices full-time as an attending physician at multiple underserved emergency departments nationally. He also serves part-time as the chief physician and medical captain for many of the large-scale running events in the NYC metro area, including the annual TCS NYC Marathon, the largest in the world. Finally, since 2008 he has been invited to speak at hundreds of campuses and events across the country, including TEDx and ASCEND. Topics include those pertaining to the Asian American diaspora, body image, mental health, leadership development, intersectionality and coalition building, and he continues to be one of the most active public speakers in the Asian American speaking circuit.
Saturday Workshops Round 1
Presenter Name:
Workshop Name:
Description:
Hanh Crose / Nguyen
Journey to a Successful Career Path
As you journey to a successful career path, learn the three stages that are involved and the skills required to navigate, negotiate, communicate and self promote–while not settling for less. The decision(s) you make today will alter the course of your career and/or life.
Hanh (Nguyen) Crose has been in IT for over 15 years with a focus on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system administration. She currently leads the Technology Services Industry Association and Salesforce.com programs for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Customer Solution Center – Americas based out of Alpharetta, Georgia.
Prior to moving to Georgia, Hanh lived in Seattle, Washington for 22 years and worked at Microsoft, Vulcan (a Paul G. Allen company aka Microsoft co-founder), Milliman, Hearst, F5 Networks, and Hewlett Packard Inc. in Austin, TX.
Hanh was born in Malaysia, in a refugee camp, and is one out of eight kids. Her parents were originally from My Tho, Vietnam. She stays active with her two precious daughters, going to church, volunteering, traveling, baking, fishing, watching live music & sports, and enjoys bubble tea.
Phuc Hong Phan
Anticipating the Unexpected
Risk. For many people, this term is associated with images of unforeseen crisis that could disrupt the flow of your work and create unwanted disturbances in your plans. Risks happen everywhere. In reality, everything you do carries some degree of risk, even the simple act of taking a walk. Risk management is not a crisis response plan, but your ability to look ahead, anticipate and problem-solve. It is an ongoing state-of-mind and continuous exercise you should undertake, whether you’re working or just simply planning your life out. Come learn the proper risk management tactics and shift your mentality about risks, so you can properly address anything that come your way to continue to grow and maximize your success.
Phuc Hong Phan was born in Saigon, Vietnam and was raised in Northern California. He is an alumnus of Emory University where he began his involvement with the Vietnamese community in Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeast region. Since 2010, he has continued to serve his community through his various leadership roles, including being the President of UVSASE and the President of UNAVSA. Phuc’s goal is to empower the next generation with the mindset to continue to innovate upon our history and collaborate together as unique and individual leaders to create the best results. His favorite past time activities include eating at buffets, and playing all types of games. He also has a strong love for all types of plushies.
Sue Ann Hong
Preparation for the Workforce
“An analysis of millions of job ads by the workforce analytics firm Burning Glass found that those requiring a bachelor’s degree list more soft skills than technical skills among the set of requirements. What’s more, 20% of positions (excluding health care positions) also expect a certificate or a license for a particular technical skill. In other words, the degree might open the door for a job interview, but employers don’t trust it enough to validate that someone can actually do the job.” HBR: Two-Thirds of College Grads Struggle to Launch Their Careers, Jeffrey J Selingo 5/31/2016
Explore what skills you need, what you strengths you bring to the table. What soft skills are needed to think about developing for yourself as you prepare to enter the workforce? Join the discussion and let’s talk about it!
Sue Ann Hong joined the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW) May 2018 as the interim Executive Director. She worked at State Farm Insurance Companies for over 28 years in Data Processing, Diversity & Inclusion, Corporate and Auto Claims, where she led up to 600 leaders and employees in supporting customers in 23 states. Her passion for building trusting relationships infuses Sue Ann’s philosophy. A 2002 Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute (APAWLI) National Fellow, she continues her journey as a whole person leader in her belief it’s the journey versus the destination. Her goal is to support CAPAW’s vision to build whole person leaders, one at a time.
Thoa Kim Nguyen
Definition of Branding, Effective Branding Practices, Personal vs. Professional Branding
Brand, branding – it’s buzz or hot words often brought up in various discussions of celebrities, businesses, tech, and various industries. Most people only see very specific components to branding and associate it with color scheme, or traits (laid back, professional, etc). In this workshop we go over not just the definitions, but also the what effective branding looks like, and how it can be applied to VSA, a career, project, or yourself as an individual.
Thoa Kim Nguyen originally hails from Denver, Colorado and currently resides & works in Atlanta Georgia. She Manages The Anguished Barber, a hybrid barbershop and bar business trying to set different standards in the industry. Before starting this new business, Thoa started her career in Washington D.C., as a marketing consultant & business strategist specializing in branding. Later, she received a PMP certification and worked as a project manager for a forensic accounting firm.
Intrigued by the business world, Thoa pursued a business program with the dreams of owning her own company. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University Business School with Magna Cum Laude honors in both degrees – bachelors in Marketing and an MBA in Business Management.
She has a strong resolve in serving the Vietnamese community. She currently operates as the Marketing & Public Relations Director. Her previous roles within UNAVSA were UNAVSA President, Co-CPP Campaign Director, UNAVSA Secretary, UNAVSA-8 Co-Executive Director, UNAVSA-7 Marketing Director, Southwest Regional Representative, and UNAVSA-6 Entertainment Staff. Thoa also served as President of the Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (SWUVSA) in 2012, an organization she co-founded alongside her brother Phong Kim Nguyen.
In her spare time, she enjoys expanding her world by growing her side business as a professional hair and makeup artist, eating extremely spicy food, writing, watching documentaries, singing and chasing after cats.
Calvin Sun
Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Public Speaking & Social Etiquette 101
The subtle prejudices of western professional etiquette have insidiously undermined Asian Americans’ potential for leadership in this country: the AAPI community constitute the highest percentage of degree holders in higher education, and yet also the lowest percentage of those who are promoted to executive level positions. Why is that?
This workshop will question the effect of cultural and parental influences on an Asian American trying to access professional American industries, the stereotypes that bar Asian Americans from reaching positions of leadership, and the ways to overcome societal limitations to encourage our future professional growth. We will learn how to develop skills to become an effective public speaker, as well as current standards of etiquette so you can put your best foot forward in any social setting.
Calvin D. Sun, MD is a practicing Attending Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor specializing in Emergency Medicine, public speaker, phoblographer, social justice activist, dance choreographer, and entrepreneur based in NYC.
Graduating from Columbia University and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine respectively as Class Vice President and President, Dr. Sun was also a host on MTVu’s “The Freshmen” for 4 years and an award winning independent filmmaker. He is known for his films on Asian American stereotypes and body image, the last of which won the inaugural One to Watch Audience Award at the 2007 Asian American International Film Festival. His work has been published in various articles and books, including The American Beauty Industry Encyclopedia.
Calvin afterwards served as President of the Columbia College Young Alumni (CCYA) having overseen the largest growth of the organization, as well as Director of the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU), the oldest and largest ethnic-interest collegiate organization in the country. After 10 years of service on ECAASU, he has the distinction of being the longest serving member in its 40 year history.
Calvin is also the Founder & CEO of The Monsoon Diaries: a travel blog-turned-community that evolved from his solo travels into a business that now organizes and leads affordable group trips. The Monsoon Diaries has fulfilled the dreams of hundreds around the world by taking them to over 170 countries in the past 8 years, including places such as North Korea, Turkmenistan, Nauru, Iraq, and Antarctica. He has garnered the most attention for having achieved this while a full-time medical student and resident physician, proving that travel is still possible for those who have seemingly limited time and money. The Monsoon Diaries has since been featured on BBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, National Geographic, and USA Today.
Calvin recently completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Jacobi + Montefiore Medical Centers in The Bronx, where he had served as the Director of Resident Wellness. He now practices full-time as an attending physician at multiple underserved emergency departments nationally. He also serves part-time as the chief physician and medical captain for many of the large-scale running events in the NYC metro area, including the annual TCS NYC Marathon, the largest in the world. Finally, since 2008 he has been invited to speak at hundreds of campuses and events across the country, including TEDx and ASCEND. Topics include those pertaining to the Asian American diaspora, body image, mental health, leadership development, intersectionality and coalition building, and he continues to be one of the most active public speakers in the Asian American speaking circuit.
Christopher Hew
Career Building 101
The workshop will focus on tips for resume building, interviewing and networking for individual looking to begin building their career.
I graduated from UF with a degree in biology and from UAB with a degree in forensic science with a focus on drug chemistry. I currently work as a forensic scientist in the Alabama Department of Forensic Science. I was also the UNAVSA-16 executive director.
Saturday Workshops Round 2
Presenter Name:
Workshop Name:
Description:
Christian Sy
The Modern Day Icarus: Curving the Burnout Epidemic
The workshop will analyze the all too common problem of burnout within student leaders. By dissecting burnout attendees will be able to understand effective ways to combat declining moral, dropout, and general lack of oomph within an organization. Once presented with different means to quell the flames of burnout a guided discussion will be facilitated so those attending may surmise ways in which they can utilize lessons learned in their own communities.
Christian is currently a medical education coordinator for a health system in southern Florida and graduated from Florida International University (FIU) with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration in 2016. During his time at FIU Christian would come to serve as the president of its respective Asian Student Union. While serving as president Christian stumbled upon the Florida Asian American Student Union a network that encompassed some of Florida’s largest schools. Recognizing the boundless potential that a unified Florida Asian American could have he would help foster the organizations growth throughout the years and would later become its second Executive Director. When not busy with work or pumping iron in his spare time Christian enjoys traveling, jamming to music, and brisk walks in the seaward breeze.
Pele Le
SEAA / Vietnamese History and Advocacy
Aim to help attendees understand history of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian history/immigration and how it informs our federal and individual advocacy. There will be discussion on the current status of Southeast Asian Americans (SEAA) and how we are being threatened/harmed, challenges we are facing, and the strategies to combat these challenges. We will be highlighting a framework showing how social change occurs, and give participants insight on creating effective change. This workshop is interactive by identifying issues, sharing stories, and participating in small/large group dialogue. Target audience are be individuals exploring to understand their social identity(s), those in community leadership positions who want to create a greater impact, and/or curious of Việt/SEAA advocacy.
Pele Văn Lê is a second-generation Vietnamese American and a proud first-generation college graduate with a BAS in health services management with a minor in public health, psychology, leadership, and Asian languages and literature from the University of Minnesota (UMN), Twin Cities. For the last several years, he has been exploring how to bridge communities together, create effective social change, and progressing communities without harming others. He currently works at the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) and previously led field operations, advancing immigrants and workers’ rights as the DC/VA civic engagement fellow at the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). He also worked for the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) activating electorates across the nation. During his undergrad, he led university’s local Vietnamese Student Association in Minnesota as president and the Union of Vietnamese Student Association – Midwest as Family Programming Director.
Jenny Nguyen
Oh you FANcy, huh?!
Are you ready to BLOW everyone away with awesome new fan dance moves?
Be ready to learn a short routine and even have the chance to choreograph your own with a team. Whether you have experience or not, this is a fun space to learn and grow.
Representing the West Coast and more specifically Northern California, Jenny Nguyen is a student at San Jose State University. She is heavily involved in her school’s Vietnamese Student Association (SJSU VSA), United Vietnamese Student Association of Northern California (NorCal UVSA), and in the Vietnamese community. Jenny was the former SJSU VSA President and is the current Treasurer for NorCal UVSA. Jenny has over 10 years of experience in traditional dancing and has choreographed multiple pieces to perform at various VSA events as well as out in the Vietnamese community. She really hopes to share her love for traditional dancing with everyone.
Phuc Hong Phan
Understanding Your Finances
Adulting is hard, money doesn’t have to be. As students, we’re always told to save money and prepare for the future. But how exactly do you budget correctly? What are some financial roadblocks you should be prepared to face? Is it too early to start thinking about retirement? For this workshop, we’ll go over the answers to these questions and discuss various topics including money management, paychecks, student loans, and retirement. The goal is to leave this workshop with the knowledge to get control of your own finances.
Phuc Hong Phan was born in Saigon, Vietnam and was raised in Northern California. He is an alumnus of Emory University where he began his involvement with the Vietnamese community in Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeast region. Since 2010, he has continued to serve his community through his various leadership roles, including being the President of UVSASE and the President of UNAVSA. Phuc’s goal is to empower the next generation with the mindset to continue to innovate upon our history and collaborate together as unique and individual leaders to create the best results. His favorite past time activities include eating at buffets, and playing all types of games. He also has a strong love for all types of plushies.
Thoa Kim Nguyen
Navigating a Career & Fulfillment
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? This is a tough question especially for those in school, about the graduate, or those starting a career. In this work shop you’re going to go through a series of exercises that help center yourself, make you reflect on things that mean the most to you, and shift your thinking to make life more fulfilling in different aspects.
Thoa Kim Nguyen originally hails from Denver, Colorado and currently resides & works in Atlanta Georgia. She Manages The Anguished Barber, a hybrid barbershop and bar business trying to set different standards in the industry. Before starting this new business, Thoa started her career in Washington D.C., as a marketing consultant & business strategist specializing in branding. Later, she received a PMP certification and worked as a project manager for a forensic accounting firm.
Intrigued by the business world, Thoa pursued a business program with the dreams of owning her own company. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University Business School with Magna Cum Laude honors in both degrees – bachelors in Marketing and an MBA in Business Management.
She has a strong resolve in serving the Vietnamese community. She currently operates as the Marketing & Public Relations Director. Her previous roles within UNAVSA were UNAVSA President, Co-CPP Campaign Director, UNAVSA Secretary, UNAVSA-8 Co-Executive Director, UNAVSA-7 Marketing Director, Southwest Regional Representative, and UNAVSA-6 Entertainment Staff. Thoa also served as President of the Southwest Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (SWUVSA) in 2012, an organization she co-founded alongside her brother Phong Kim Nguyen.
In her spare time, she enjoys expanding her world by growing her side business as a professional hair and makeup artist, eating extremely spicy food, writing, watching documentaries, singing and chasing after cats.
Calvin Sun
Asian Americans & Sex
On a topic that seems so prevalent among all human beings, Asian Americans uniquely struggle with discussing a “taboo” topic such as sex, whether it’s among themselves, friends or family. This workshop will engage participants to learn how to create safe yet brave sex- positive spaces by developing a healthy, introspective, inclusive language to talk about sex and sexuality with themselves and others.
This workshop will push the comfort limits on talking about sex; we will challenge the factors that have made sex a “taboo” among AAPIs and challenge them to be able to talk about these issues on their own and with other communities.
Calvin D. Sun, MD is a practicing Attending Physician and Clinical Assistant Professor specializing in Emergency Medicine, public speaker, phoblographer, social justice activist, dance choreographer, and entrepreneur based in NYC.
Graduating from Columbia University and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine respectively as Class Vice President and President, Dr. Sun was also a host on MTVu’s “The Freshmen” for 4 years and an award winning independent filmmaker. He is known for his films on Asian American stereotypes and body image, the last of which won the inaugural One to Watch Audience Award at the 2007 Asian American International Film Festival. His work has been published in various articles and books, including The American Beauty Industry Encyclopedia.
Calvin afterwards served as President of the Columbia College Young Alumni (CCYA) having overseen the largest growth of the organization, as well as Director of the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU), the oldest and largest ethnic-interest collegiate organization in the country. After 10 years of service on ECAASU, he has the distinction of being the longest serving member in its 40 year history.
Calvin is also the Founder & CEO of The Monsoon Diaries: a travel blog-turned-community that evolved from his solo travels into a business that now organizes and leads affordable group trips. The Monsoon Diaries has fulfilled the dreams of hundreds around the world by taking them to over 170 countries in the past 8 years, including places such as North Korea, Turkmenistan, Nauru, Iraq, and Antarctica. He has garnered the most attention for having achieved this while a full-time medical student and resident physician, proving that travel is still possible for those who have seemingly limited time and money. The Monsoon Diaries has since been featured on BBC News, ABC News, MSNBC, National Geographic, and USA Today.
Calvin recently completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Jacobi + Montefiore Medical Centers in The Bronx, where he had served as the Director of Resident Wellness. He now practices full-time as an attending physician at multiple underserved emergency departments nationally. He also serves part-time as the chief physician and medical captain for many of the large-scale running events in the NYC metro area, including the annual TCS NYC Marathon, the largest in the world. Finally, since 2008 he has been invited to speak at hundreds of campuses and events across the country, including TEDx and ASCEND. Topics include those pertaining to the Asian American diaspora, body image, mental health, leadership development, intersectionality and coalition building, and he continues to be one of the most active public speakers in the Asian American speaking circuit.