Diplomat in Residence – Northern and Central California
(Northern and Central CA)
Tours: Embassy Singapore, Singapore (Consular Officer); Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Consular Officer); Consulate General Istanbul, Turkey (General Services Officer); Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Management Officer); Washington, D.C. (multiple roles); Embassy Riga, Latvia (Management Officer)
Career Track: Management
Years of Service: 21 years with the Foreign Service
Prior Experience: Management Consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers (now PwC), Business Analyst
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin dialects), Vietnamese, Turkish, Latvian
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Brown University; Graduate Program in International Affairs, The New School.
Interesting Experience: Each overseas assignment has brought a wealth of memories and adventures. Whether riding a motorbike across fields of rice paddies or waiting on the airport runway at 2am for the Secretary’s arrival, I cannot describe a typical day over the past 20 years. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine living in Istanbul for three years, traveling around Vietnam, Southeast Asia and Europe. As a major foodie, I have sampled a wide range of Turkish cuisine, explored the various food markets in Southeast Asian and enjoyed the tasty treats in many European holiday markets.
Last Post: Embassy Riga, Latvia
Why I Chose a Foreign Service Career: The Foreign Service offers the best blend of overseas life and government service. I found the nexus to apply my private sector experience with my interests on global issues and world affairs. The path was not direct. A college classmate planted the seed of the Foreign Service during my senior year in college. At the same time, I found great joy in learning a foreign language in college and I steered my career path away from medicine. My family immigrated to the United States when I was young and working for the U.S. Department of State is my way to give back to the country that rewarded me with education and boundless opportunities.