Ariuna is Associate Professor of Economics and the MBA Program Director at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She speaks Mongolian, English and Russian, and loves to attend ballet and concerts. She and her husband have two beautiful, grown-up children and a well loved orange tabby cat named Simba. They love to travel around the world and so far have visited 20 countries. One interesting fact about Ariuna: she worked in the central bank of Mongolia for 17 years in different capacities such as an economist, senior economist, department director, and a monetary policy advisor to the President of the bank.

Jennifer Lien (she/her) is a musician, former newspaper journalist, and a parent with a deep concern for the well-being of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American community here. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, San Jose State University, and Doctor of Musical Arts (Voice) & Master of Music (Music History) degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Currently, she teaches voice at The College of St. Scholastica. She is a founding member of the Twin Ports APIDA Collective, through which she hopes to contribute to the health of her larger community. "If the APIDA community is thriving, the entire Twin Ports community is better for it," says Jennifer. "I'm showing up to play my part in making the Northland feel more like home for those who live here, especially our children."

Julia Cheng spent 16 years in photojournalism before entering financial services. While directing greater Minnesota's largest Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, she trained hundreds of community members to prepare tax returns for their neighbors and developed a passion for achieving social justice through economic empowerment. To that end, she earned a second bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota Duluth. A founding member of TPAC, Julia has served in nonprofit fiscal oversight or management roles for Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, the NAACP Duluth branch, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and Community Action Duluth. Retaining her foothold in photography and music, she won state grants to organize “Like Me, Like You” for TPAC in 2021 and the Clayton Jackson McGhie centennial concert of March 2020. “As the daughter of immigrants from China, I know TPAC’s work to foster APIDA participation in civic life is building a more equitable community for all. I am thrilled and so inspired in this mission by my TPAC sisters and fellow board members.”

Julie is a Korean Adoptee and was raised in the Twin Cities. She completed her undergraduate and Masters in Social Work degrees at UMD. She has lived in Duluth since 1991, and has worked in the mental health field for over 30 years. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and is currently employed as a mental health counselor at UMD Health Services. Julie says, “TPAC has created a place of belonging, and our members have become family.”

Kim Nordin (she/her) is a Korean adoptee who has lived in the Duluth community since she was a baby. Kim has worked for nonprofits since she was 18 and has a passion for advancing health equity. Kim also serves on the Bridging Health Duluth Steering Committee as co-chair. “Finding TPAC has helped strengthen my identity, bring a sense of belonging, and provides a community that will support and nurture my son as he grows up,” says Kim.

Pakou is a Hmong American who arrived in the United States at age 4, as Laos was under siege by communist forces and the US military involvement in the Vietnam War came to a close. Her father was a Colonel in the Army and served under the leadership of General Vang Pao in Laos. She has over two decades of experience in public service, community engagement and advocacy. Pakou relocated to Duluth in 2006 and has worked in the non-profit sector and public sector with experience in managing projects, communications and public relations. She is a founding member of the Twin Ports Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Collective. She has her Masters in Public Policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Pakou loves connecting with the community and finds TPAC to be a transformative group in her life. “I am grateful for the APIDA leaders and advocates who are stepping up, lending their voices for equity, and creating a welcoming space for all individuals to be their best selves.”

Viann Nguyen-Feng [vee-anne win-fang] (she/her) is a second-generation Southeast Asian/Vietnamese American born to Vietnam War refugees and a Navy Veteran in the Washington, DC area. She moved to the Midwest to pursue a counseling psychology PhD at UMN-Twin Cities and now serves as an assistant professor and director of the Mind-Body Trauma Care Lab in the Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota Duluth. "I am grateful that the TPAC APIDA and Ally community promotes spaces in which our voices and our hearts can be fully heard, acknowledged, validated, and elevated," says Viann.