Resume
Most Recent Work
Experience
Hmong Community Fellow (Contract)
Ramsey County Historical Society (in partnership with the Center for Hmong Studies)
Saint Paul, MN
December 2024 - May 2025
Collaborating with the Ramsey County Historical Society and the Center for Hmong Studies to support the documentation and promotion of Hmong cultural heritage.
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Supporting the preservation and promotion of Hmong cultural heritage through dedicated research, workshops, and public engagement.
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Developing a cultural heritage project to highlight the history and contributions of the Hmong community, to be presented during the History Revealed series.
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Collaborating with established cultural organizations to ensure the meaningful documentation and presentation of Hmong traditions and stories.
Gallery of Ordinary People
Individual Project ACL 6002:Capstone
2024-2025
Project Overview:
Developed as part of the ACL 6002 capstone, this project explores equitable family archiving and cultural preservation through the immigrant experience, specifically focusing on a Hmong American narrative. Constraints included limited access to archival materials and community resources, requiring creative use of digital tools and personal artifacts to shape the exhibition.
Process & Content:
Employed curatorial practices, archival research, and autoethnographic methods to gather, preserve, and present culturally significant materials. Engaged community stakeholders for feedback to ensure authenticity and relevance. The project also developed a toolkit aimed at helping individuals preserve their own family histories, addressing the research question, "What practices can be created to help people preserve their family and cultural histories?"
Skills:
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Field-specific: Archival research, curatorial practices, preservation techniques, and exhibit design.
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Transferable: Project management, digital curation, community engagement, storytelling, and autoethnographic analysis.
Results:
The project is planned to expand into a digital and traveling exhibit and includes the creation of a toolkit designed to help individuals preserve their own family histories and cultural narratives. This toolkit addresses the research question, "What practices can be created to help people preserve their family and cultural histories?" The project successfully fostered greater understanding of immigrant narratives and demonstrated effective community outreach and engagement. Final evaluation is pending, but the project is expected to meet all capstone requirements.
Thoughtful Lobby Activation
Individual Project with Northrop Auditorium ACL 6204: Practicum
2023-2024
Project Overview:
Inaugural student advisory board member. Held role as Project Advisor. Practicum collaboration with Northrop's Engagement Manager to cultivate partnerships with various community stakeholders for the lobby activation for Northrop's presentation of "10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography" on April 12-13, 2024. Build mutually beneficial partnerships with local Asian and Asian American arts organizations. Educate diverse audiences on Asian and Asian American cultural contributions, particularly Hmong history and arts. Foster a sense of belonging for community members through inclusive cultural programming.
Key Skills:
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Project Management: Coordinated outreach initiatives, effective engagement with multiple community stakeholders.
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Cultural Program Development: Curated and developed programming for educational initiatives centered around arts and culture.
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Community Engagement: Designed and executed outreach strategies tailored to diverse community needs, particularly within Asian and Hmong communities.
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Relationship Building: Established strong, long-term partnerships with organizations such as Hmong Museum, SEAD Project, Theatre Mu, and UMN student organizations.
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Cultural Competency: Demonstrated understanding and respect for the cultural narratives and contributions of Asian and Asian American communities, particularly Hmong heritage.
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Event Planning: Organized and executed educational exhibits and events aligned with community interests and goals.
Results:
Completed a project Thoughtful Lobby Activation, connecting community organizations with Northrop’s audience, strengthening partnerships and inviting collaboration. The course was pass/fail, and I passed upon successful completion of both the project and course requirements.
Owner
Kaolee Shop
Broomfield, CO
July 2019 – Present
Designed and produced handmade jewelry and gifts, managing all aspects of e-commerce, marketing, and community engagement. Increased brand visibility through strategic social media campaigns and pop-up market participation.
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Soft Skills: Creativity, Storytelling, Visual Narratives
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Hard Skills: Graphic Design (Illustrator, InDesign), Product Photography, Social Media Management
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Marketing & E-Commerce Management:
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Shopify: Managed design, production, photography, and product listings while overseeing all aspects of the website's operations.
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Pinterest: Grew organic impressions to 21K+ and reached an audience of 17.86K+ through strategic content creation.
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Instagram: Increased engagement and brand visibility through consistent, targeted content creation and community interaction.
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Grant Reviewer
Minnesota State Arts Board
Saint Paul, MN
October 2023
Evaluated grant applications from artists and community organizations, ensuring a fair and equitable review process. Collaborated with a diverse panel to assess artistic merit and community impact, providing recommendations to enhance Minnesota's arts ecosystem. ●
Skills: Evaluation, Collaboration, Equity, Community Engagement, Arts Advocacy
Visitor Service Associate
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
Denver, CO
February 2022 – August 2022
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Enhanced visitor experiences by managing admissions and store operations, and initiating oral history collection efforts.
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Contributed to community engagement and inclusivity initiatives.
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Skills: Customer Service, Teamwork, Oral History Collection, Data Entry
Recreation Clerk
City and County of Broomfield
Broomfield, CO
May 2021 – March 2022
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Managed account operations and organized community events, assisting with activity check-ins and improving participant experiences.
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Skills: Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Time Management, Project Management, Community Engagement, Administrative Support
Receptionist & Recreation Assistant
Legacy Village of Sugar House
Salt Lake City, UT
December 2019 – July 2020
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Led recreational therapy sessions for Memory Care residents, providing excellent customer service and administrative support.
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Skills: Microsoft Excel, Leadership, Organizational Skills, Project Management, Customer Experience, Administrative Assistance, Interpersonal Skills, Collaboration
Office Manager & Creative Graphic Designer
Gottschall Engraving
Sandy, UT
September 2018 – December 2019
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Managed office operations and designed graphic materials, streamlined vendor management and product organization systems, supervising a small team to enhance efficiency.
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Skills: Sales, Project Management, Customer Retention, Systems Organization, Graphic Design, Account Management, Administration
Education
12/27/23-1/14/24
Study Abroad: Leadership and Social Change in Ireland
Over my winter break I spent 2.5 weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland, immersing myself in the study of history and political dynamics. The purpose of this endeavor was to establish a contextual foundation that would enhance my understanding of the Troubles, as well as contemporary leadership and social change. I aimed to gain insight and reflect on my own leadership and social responsibility.
2022-2025
Relevant Courses:
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Facilitating Community Driven Leadership
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Core Practices in Heritage Studies and Public History
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Creative Entrepreneurship and Resource Development
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Study Abroad: Leadership and Social Change in Ireland
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Ethical Dilemmas and Legal Issues for Cultural Leaders
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Marketing 6087: Power of Story
2013-2016
Brigham Young University - Idaho | Bachelor's Degree - Studio Art Printmaking
Relevant Courses:
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Graphic Design
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Printmaking
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20th Century Art History
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Head Drawing
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Book Arts
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Visual Media
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Expressive Drawing
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Typography
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Mass Media & Society
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Twentieth Century Art
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Environmental Stewardship
Projects, Publications, Workshops, & Certifications
4/12/22
A conversation and highlight about creative work and projects as a resident in the Denver Metro Area.
10/26/2022
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · Oct 26, 2022University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · Oct 26, 2022
Honoring the legacy of Karin L. Larson and her contribution to the College of Continuing education at the University of Minnesota.
2022-2024
First graduate student board member, actively contributing to advisory board meetings and events.
Aim to gain knowledge of the organization's inner workings and structure, working towards achieving its goals.
Practicum Collaboration - Project Advisor (2023-2024):
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Collaborated with Northrop's engagement team for a lobby event preceding "10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography."
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Focus on building relationships with Twin Cities Asian and Asian American arts organizations, educating audiences on cultural contributions, particularly Hmong, and fostering community engagement.
2/22/23
Core concepts around equity, diversity, and social justice. Deepening understanding of our own identities and how to work towards allyship and advocacy in our roles.
2/22/23
Outkasts is written by Hmong Author and playwright Katie Ka Vang. I had the opportunity to be a personal assistant on the set during the filming of the pilot. Filming took place at the home of Kathy Mouacheupao, a pioneer for Hmong people in the Arts in the state of Minnesota.
As a personal assistant on set I assisted with a variety of tasks from covering up tattoos, staging the set, photographing actors, photographing behind the scenes content, and held light reflectors.