People Type: Staff

Biography As the oldest girl in her family, Suzie is a lifetime trailblazer. Born in California, but calls Milwaukee her home, Suzie is a first-generation college graduate. She attended Edgewood College as a Sociology major and received her master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the University of WI-La Crosse. She focused her graduate …

Biography Chou Yee serves as an advisor in the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program. He enjoys supporting and guiding students to believe in themselves and accomplish their academic and personal goals. He is both a UW–Madison undergraduate and graduate alumni. He is also a TRiO/CeO alumni. Chou Yee enjoys watching basketball, Netflix, Disney+, eating, listening to music, and spending time …

Biography Adriana is a Chicago native and moved to Madison for college back in 2015. She graduated from UW–Madison with a BA in Psychology and a certificate in Entrepreneurship in 2019. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Adriana worked at the Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) where she practiced ABA therapy and worked on school-readiness for children on the …

Biography As a proud PEOPLE alumna, Lena graduated from UW–Madison in 2020 with a BA in Psychology and a certificate in Asian American Studies with a HMoob American Studies Emphasis (which she helped establish as an undergrad!). After earning her bachelor’s, Lena continued as a research intern with the “Our HMoob American College Paj Ntaub” …

Biography Faran Saeed (He/Him/His) holds a PhD in Language, Equity, and Educational Policy from Oregon State University, and holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University College of Education. He currently serves as the Director of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program and previously served as the Director of Diversity, …

Biography Kao Yong (pronounced Gao Zhong, or Nkauj Zoo for Hmong speakers) Thao serves as Associate Director of the Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program. Kao Yong graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a BA in English and Gender & Women’s Studies. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Kao Yong went on to do a term …