University alumna Chee Ia Yang was selected for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ (NASPA) Graduate Associate Program (GAP), a council of graduate students whose career ambitions align with the student affairs profession.
Yang, who currently attends Michigan State University, is working toward a master’s degree in student affairs Administration. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UNC Charlotte in 2012. During her time on campus, she also participated in the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program (NUFP).
Through NUFP, Yang said she “discovered the field of student affairs and the plethora of opportunities available to become a future practitioner.”
Now Yang continues her NASPA involvement with GAP, which introduces graduate students to more leadership opportunities within national organization. Yang will join other GAP members throughout the world to discuss NASPA events, publications and program offerings at different campuses.
According to Yang, she wanted to be part of to increase her knowledge of higher education and student affairs, connect with other GAP members and to take advantage of the support and opportunities available.
Throughout her time at UNC Charlotte, Yang was involved in many cultural organizations. She served as president for the Hmong Student Association and was a council member on the Multicultural Student Council. Yang also initiated and chartered Delta Phi Lambda Sorority Inc., the first Asian-interest Greek organization at UNC Charlotte.
Regena Brown, assistant director for multicultural student organizations for the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), worked with Yang, whom she described as a “hardworking student who has overcome many obstacles in her life to reach where she is today.”