Candidate for
Trustee; Coast Community College District; Trustee Area 1

I was born in Ha Noi, North Vietnam. In 1954 my grandparents, my parents, my uncles and I moved to "SaiGon" which is now named "Ho Chi Minh" city . Later my father was offered a job in "Can Tho" city. We were later able to join my father upon my grandparents' approval. I love this city because of its welcoming and kind nature. I graduated from "Nguyen Hue" elementary school in 1965. I graduated from "Phan Thanh Gian" high school in 1972. In September 1972, I enrolled in Can Tho University, Faculty of Law and Social Science. In April 1975, a kind neighbor of my uncle brought my family to the United States. Saint James Church and Episcopal Church co-sponsored our family, and helped us settle in Torrance, California. With the help of the church, I got my first job as "Checker" in the receiving department of the May Co. South Bay store. While awaiting to become a California resident, I attended Pier Adult School in Redondo Beach to improve my English. In September 1976 I started taking classes at El Camino Community College. Thanks to one of my professors, I got a part-time job as "Bilingual Attendant Aide" for the Torrance Unified School District for one year. I graduated from El Camino Community College in May 1979 with an Associate in Arts Degree. I then transfered to the University of California, Los Angeles in May 1979, (attending the summer session sponsored by the UCLA Academic Advancement Program). I graduated in May 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science. In September 1981 I attended the Northrop University, School of Law. While I was a student, I was lucky to be employed as "Student assistant to the Librarian". I started developing a deep appreciation of the services that the library offered. I graduated from Northrop University, School of Law in May 1985 with a Juris Doctor degree. I also received the Delta Theta Phi International Professional Law Fraternity Service Award for my service at the library. I later worked for a plaintiff's personal injury law firm in Long Beach as Legal Assistant. My love for the academic environment brought me back to El Camino Community College, and I started working for the College in September 1987 as student assistant while taking classes in real estate. I was later employed as financial aid specialist. My employment with the College was terminated in May 1989 for not being able to pass the probation. I started taking classes in the Travel and Trade Institute - Import/Export Program and graduated in January 1990. I worked for Asia Trans Line as "Sales Representative" from January 1990 to March 1990. I left the position because I did not receive any satisfaction from the job. I started taking classes at Golden West College in real estate and administration of justice. In April 1991 I worked for ERA Huntington Shores Properties, Inc. as sales agent for few months, and realized that selling real estate does not suit my nature. In December 1991 I was lucky to receive an offer to work for Orange County Public Law Library as "Extra help." I received a lot of satisfaction through helping the public find information. I finally found my niche. I was encouraged by kind librarians and coworkers to go the Library school. In May, 1992 I received a Certificate of Achievement in Administration of Justice, Law Enforcement Option from Golden West College. In September 1996 I attended the San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, Extension program at California State University in Fullerton . I was lucky to be awarded the SCALL (Southern California Association of Law Librarian) 1996-1997 Scholarship, and the California Library Grant (1999-2000) while I was in school. I graduated in May 2001 with a Master of Library and Information Science. I feel indebted toward the educational system in the United states, and the Community College system in particular, for having prepared me to advance my education and career. Thus, I decided to seek an opportunity to serve the Coast Community College District as well as its community.