After eight years on the Cupertino City Council, and earlier service on the Cupertino Union School District Board, I have been thinking about where I can continue serving our community and where my experience can make the greatest difference. For me, the answer is education. Education has been a constant throughout my life—as a student, parent, classroom volunteer, college professor, school-board member, and now an Foothill-De Anza student. At the same time, nearly three decades in high tech have shown me how quickly AI and technology are changing the skills people need. That change has become personal. I have seen its impact on my own work and on my children, who majored in computer-related fields. It reinforced for me that education can no longer be something we finish when we are young. People will increasingly need opportunities to learn, retrain, and broaden their skills throughout their lives. This year, I returned to the classroom at De Anza, taking courses in technology, business, law, film production, and art—partly for practical reasons, partly out of curiosity, and partly simply because I enjoy learning. Becoming a student again has given me firsthand experience with some of the barriers students face. But it has also reminded me of the joy of learning. I have come to love De Anza and community-college life. That experience has strengthened my belief that Foothill and De Anza should be seen not only as colleges for young people preparing to transfer or begin careers, but as community resources for people at every stage of life—whether they are building new skills, changing careers, exploring an interest, or simply continuing to learn. I want our colleges to remain excellent while becoming even stronger community anchors: affordable, accessible, future-ready, and closely connected to the residents, schools, employers, businesses, and organizations around them. I am also running because I believe the Board benefits from fresh perspectives and strong connections to the people it serves. My background brings together K–12 governance, college teaching, eight years in city government, nearly three decades in technology, extensive community engagement, and my current experience as an FHDA student. Those experiences have taught me to listen, ask questions, examine assumptions, and challenge the status quo when necessary. Public institutions should not change simply for the sake of change, but neither should they assume that established practices are always the best way to meet changing needs. This election also comes at an important transition. Pearl Cheng, currently the Board’s only Asian American trustee, is retiring after representing Trustee Area 4. With its large Asian American population, I believe Area 4 should continue to have a strong voice and meaningful representation on the Board. As I complete my service on the Cupertino City Council, running for the Foothill-De Anza Board brings together many parts of my life: education, technology, public service, community involvement, and my own experience as a student. I want to help ensure that Foothill and De Anza continue to serve students well while becoming an even more integral part of the communities around them.
Lower practical barriers. Reduce barriers unrelated to academics, including textbook costs, limited schedules, and technology needs. Offer flexible ways to learn. Offer online, hybrid, evening, weekend, and short-term classes with strong instructor engagement and learning communities. Expand access for students with disabilities. Explore 18–22 transition programs on Foothill and De Anza campuses and expand opportunities for adults with disabilities. Explore practical housing options. Explore affordable housing for students and employees through partnerships and creative approaches such as home sharing. Serve students at every stage of life. High school students, transfer students, working adults, career changers, students with disabilities, and lifelong learners. Technology should support—not replace—teachers and human connection.
Build AI literacy and durable human skills. Communication, critical thinking, creativity, judgment, collaboration, civic understanding, and problem solving. Prepare every field for technological change. Help students understand how AI and technology are changing their professions and society, and how to use AI thoughtfully for learning, creativity, and problem solving. Expand work-based learning. Strengthen K–12 and employer partnerships for internships, apprenticeships, paid work-based learning, and workforce training. Create stackable pathways. Build certificates and versatile pathways to degrees and careers. Prepare students to keep adapting. Help students keep learning, retrain, and adapt as careers change throughout their lives.
Make decision-making transparent and accessible. Support two-way hybrid Board meetings and easy-to-find recordings. Practice prudent stewardship. Provide strong oversight of funding and resources, including voter-approved bond funds. Protect fair local access. Study legally sound ways to ensure local students have fair access to high-demand classes. Keep the colleges rooted in community. Make Foothill and De Anza community anchors for civic dialogue, culture, innovation, and community engagement.
Have questions or suggestions? I would love to hear from you!
Campaign Headquarters
916 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274