ABOUT ME
I was born in San Jose, California in 1987 to first-generation Taiwanese immigrants, where my family and two older siblings lived until 1992. We then moved to the nearby suburb of Fremont, where I attended nationally-recognized Mission San Jose high school. Having grown up during the Silicon Valley boom, I saw first-hand how social and economic factors could completely transform cities.
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Since then, I became fascinated with how our built environment influences us on a daily basis. I received my bachelor's degree in sociology from Biola University in 2010 and I became a youth counselor for high risk teens. In 2013, I joined the US Army as a Human Intelligence Collector, and I was trained in conducting interrogations, source operations, and strategic debriefing. I also completed the Ranger Assessment Selection Program (RASP) and Airborne School to become a part of the Ranger Regiment, where I then finished the Defense Strategic Debriefing Course. In June 2015, I was honorably discharged so that I could pursue a master's degree.
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In the Fall of 2016, I enrolled at Auburn University to obtain my Master of Community Planning degree. As a graduate student, I served as the Vice President of the Auburn University Student Planning Organization, interned with the City of Madison, and became a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Society. I have made major contributions to projects in Auburn, AL, Opelika, AL, Prattville, AL, Madison, WI, and LaGrange, GA.
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In my spare time, I enjoy training for half-marathons, traveling, and spending time with my wife and son. My running accomplishments include placing 9th overall in the 2016 Soldier Half-Marathon in Fort Benning, GA and 29th overall in the 2015 All American Half-Marathon in Fayetteville, NC.
