Profiles

Mark Mitsui Named Top Education Official

By Jennie L. Ilustre Mark Mitsui was recently appointed to a top post in the U.S. Department of Education. His title: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).         The Office administers and coordinates programs on adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges. Its programs and grants support a wide …

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PROFILES: Q and A: Robert Sarvis

  Robert Sarvis isn’t sure whether he’s the first Asian American to run for Virginia governor, but if he wins this November, he’d be the first to hold the office. Sarvis, of Annandale, Va., is the third-party candidate in the Virginia governor’s race. Born and raised in Fairfax County, Sarvis, 37, is Chinese-American. His wife, Astrid, is a pediatrician who …

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On “Pigtails in Politics”: Scott D. Seligman discusses his biography The First Chinese American: The Remarkable Life of Wong Chin Foo

By Tamara Treichel   Think Frank Abagnale’s life in Catch Me If You Can is exciting, full of shape-shifting, danger, suspense and a sprinkling of romance? Then compare Wong Chin Foo’s life. Wong Chin Foo (1847-1898) was a real man with the flair of a Chinese American trickster hero, and he is brought back to life in Scott D. Seligman’s …

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Mary Kong-DeVito: DC’s Diva of All things Edible

By Suchi Rudra Strolling with her parents down the boardwalk in Atlantic City, 10-year-old Mary Kong-DeVito experienced her first love—food love, that is. After swallowing the first raw oyster of her life, Mary begged her father to order more, and eventually gulped down 2 or 3 dozen that afternoon. “I think something clicked that day. All I’d ever eaten before …

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Corinna Shen: Education Key to Success

By Jennie L. Ilustre Corinna Shen, owner of Seven Seas Restaurant located in Rockville, Maryland, believes that “education is the key for any kind of success.” Her great grandfather was one of the founders of Hunan University and was a secretary for the Education department in China. “In China, teaching is the most respected profession. And because of my family …

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Indian American Couple Mixes East With West in Vineyard

By Devika Koppikar After Sudha Patil and Pandit Patil retired from their jobs, (endodontist and mechanical engineer respectively) they started a new career – as vineyard owners. Originally from Maharashtra in India, the Patils opened the Narmada Winery in 2009 and named it after Pandit’s mother. “Pandit’s mother had to sacrifice so much and sold her jewelry for Pandit to …

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Kim Maloney’s Vision: the ‘Pottery’ as Marketplace, Community Plaza

By Jennie L. Ilustre Virginia Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jimmy Rhee describes Kim Maloney, president and CEO of Williamsburg Pottery Factory as a “a natural leader who has the ability to be laser-focused on her vision – one who clearly knows what she wants and follows her plan to the teeth.” He added in an email interview: “She’s consistent with …

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Howard Koh, Top APA at US Health Agency

Dr. Howard Koh’s title, and the responsibilities that go with it, are formidable. He is the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health oversees 12 core public health offices,” he said in an email. “Our broad portfolio includes disease prevention and health promotion, health disparities, women’s …

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Beyond the Mouth: Two DC Holistic Dentists Innovate Dentistry

By Jewel Edwards Felix Liao, D.D.S, is not a dentist. He is a whole mouth doctor. The holistic practitioner sees thousands of patients in his pristine office in Falls Church, Va. and performs various treatments, some of which push the borders of traditional dentistry, such as mercury filling removal and jaw expansion. All procedures focus on the health of the …

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Madam Chennault Celebrates 88 in Style

By Michelle Phipps-Evans Washington, DC – Hundreds of well-wishers converged at the Mayflower Hotel in NW Washington, D.C. on June 22nd to reminisce and to celebrate the birthday of an icon. The elegantly dressed audience dined on salmon and Angus beef, and enjoyed birthday cake and lively conversations. They came to celebrate the 88th birthday of Anna Chennault, chairwoman for …

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US Circuit Judge Sri Srinivasan Honored at Embassy Reception

by Geeta Goindi WASHINGTON, June 17 – There were accolades galore for Sri Srinivasan, the first South Asian American judge in the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit which is the second most powerful court in the US after the Supreme Court. The Chandigarh-born, 46-year-old judge was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor earlier in the …

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PROFILE: Brian Pak

By Susan R. Paisner Photo Credit: Susan Paisner Officer Brian Pak takes his duties very seriously. In one case, after he helped an elderly woman who had been in a minor traffic accident he followed up over the course of several weeks by calling her, even stopping by her home, to ensure she was all right. She called him to …

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Stanley Fujii: Honoring AAGEN’s 20 Years of Service

By Jennie L. Ilustre This month, the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) is holding major events to celebrate its 20th year of promoting a diverse, quality workforce and career advancement for its members. Small wonder that as the new AAGEN executive director, Stanley Fujii’s email Inbox of late was constantly full, and that was true with the state of …

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Patricia Richie-Folks: Developing Better Business, Experiences

By: Nathan Strauss When Patricia Richie-Folks first saw an ad for an office manager in the Manassas Observer, she had no idea what she was going to be in for. As it would turn out, Asian Fortune, a free, English-language publication that serves the Asian-American populations in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, had placed the ad. Richie-Folks was hired shortly afterwards, …

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Listening to a Different Drummer: A Former Radio DJ Talks about Life in China

By Tamara Treichel Born into a regular suburban family in Detroit, Michigan, Rick O’Shea realized he didn’t want to lead a Brady Bunch-like existence. “I was a regular kid headed for a traditional American future of school, marriage, 2 cars, 2.3 kids, and become a lawyer, doctor, or accountant, etc. I had absolutely nothing to rebel against – only the …

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Mee Moua, Advancing Justice as AAJC Leader

By Jennie L. Ilustre Mee Moua, who became president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) a year ago, is ready for the civil rights advocacy organization “to turn the page on a new chapter.” “In a couple of months, we will operate under one brand name–Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice),” she elaborated in an email …

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John Tran, 1st Asian American Judge in Virginia

John Tran, 1st Asian American Judge in Virginia By Jennie L. Ilustre John M. Tran, a former state and federal prosecutor in Alexandria, made history on April 4 when the Virginia General Assembly elected him Circuit Court Judge for Fairfax County. He is the first Asian Pacific American to be elected judge in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His nomination was …

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