Formosa Foundation

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Advancing the Democracy of Taiwan

Class of 2008 -- the following men and women have been selected from a national pool of applicants to particiate in the 2008 Ambassador Program.

	Christina Chang Trabuco Canyon, CA UC Irvine Biology B.S. 2008	Christina Chang is a recent graduate from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Biological Sciences. She enjoys learning about other cultures and has had the opportunity to study abroad in Kyoto, Japan. Christina is proud of her Taiwanese heritage and looks forward to using what she gains from the Ambassador Program to serve her community. She has an optimistic attitude and enjoys working with others toward a common goal. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, music, and singing.
	Kerry Chang Schaumburg, IL University of Illinois Community Health B.S. 2010	As an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign, Kerry Chang is majoring in Health Planning and Administration in Community Health and planning to minor in business. On campus she is involved in various activities, including the Taiwanese American and general Asian Pacific American community and is on the student officer board of UIUC's Taiwanese American Students Club and Asian American Student Housing Organization, and is an active member in the Asian American Association, College Democrats and Future Health Care Executives. She also works for the University of Illinois as a Student Development Representative. As a native of Schaumburg, IL, Kerry enjoys drawing, reading, tennis, swimming and watching good television and movies.
	Kevin Chen Diamond Bar, CA California Polytech at Pomona Political Science B.S. 2006	Since graduating from college, Kevin Chen has been consecutively employed by the campaign offices of several political candidates running for local offices in California. More notably he was the Regional Political Director for California Assemblywoman Shirley Horton during the 2006 elections. Kevin also interned for the Formosa Foundation during the summer of 2006. He plans to influence Taiwan policy through working with various state and congressional legislators. Born in Taiwan and grew up in the United States, Kevin is fluent in Taiwanese and Mandarin.
	Janis Wen-Chieh Chen Taoyuan, Taiwan Nat'l Cheng Kung Univ. Political Science B.S. 2009	Janis Chen is studying political science at National Cheng Kung University. Janis was a member of the Elite Development Program in 2006, and an on-site staff in 2007. The EDP focused on teaching grassroots diplomacy to young adults. At school Janis is a member of the student club "International Exchange Association for Students," in which she is the liaison to international students on campus. Optimistic and easy going, Janis loves to meet different kinds of people around the world. She enjoys participating the activities or programs to meet people and brainstorm with them. In her spare time, she enjoys seeing the movies and traveling
	Tsung-yen Chen Taoyuan, Taiwan Stanford University East Asian Studies M.A. 2009	Tsung-yen Chen is pursuing a Master's degree in East Asian Studies, with a focus on international interactions in East Asia. After graduating in 2003 with a BA degree of Diplomacy from National Chengchi University in Taiwan, he served three and a half years as a military police and working in ASUSTeK in Taipei as a marketing specialist. Tsung-yen is the founder and owner of a Chinese language website Global Observer, which collects information on current world affairs. He also regularly posts his views on world affairs and Taiwan's issues to newspapers and the web media. He is an editor of Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs.
	Julia Famularo Bethany, CT Columbia University East Asian Studies M.A. 2005 Georgetown Univ. E Asian Political History Ph.D. 2013	Julia Famularo will pursue her PhD in History at Georgetown University in Fall 2008. Her academic areas of interest include Modern East Asian political history (China, Taiwan, and Tibet) as well as US-East Asian Relations. She received her M.A. in East Asian Studies from Columbia University, and her B.A. in East Asian Studies and Spanish Literature from Haverford College. During the 2007-2008 academic year, Julia served as a United States Fulbright Fellow in Taipei. Her research focused upon the historical development and rise of ethno-nationalism in Taiwan and its impact on electoral politics. Julia has previously lived in Taiwan, Tibet, and China, and serves as Operating Director of The Ngak Mang Institute.
	Han-Hsien Hsieh West Covina, CA UCLA International Law J.D. 2011	Han-Hsien Hsieh graduated from UCLA in 2007 with degrees in Political Science and International Development Studies. She will be attending UCLA School of Law in the fall of 2008 and hopes to pursue a career in international law. A passionate writer, Hsieh is even more passionate about Taiwan. Hsieh volunteered for the Formosa Foundation as an intern during Summer 2005 and Spring 2007. She intends to contribute to the cuase of Taiwanese democracy through her academic background in political science and future career in law.
	Carrie Hsu Knoxville, TN Georgia Tech Management B.S. 2010	Born and raised in Knoxiville, Tennessee, Carrie Hsu will be a third year Management major at Georgia Institute of Technology, pursuing a Bachelor of Science and a certificate of accounting. Carrie participated in the Anti-Succession Law protest in Washington, D.C. and was active in the South East Taiwanese American Association during her high school years. Her other interests include biking, ping-pong, origami and other paper crafts.
	Stephanie Hu Cerritos, CA Boston College Communication B.A. 2012	A native of Cerritos, CA, Stephanie Hu speaks fluent Taiwanese. She will be attending Boston College in the Fall, which awarded her a full scholarship. Stephanie will be studying communications, and playing on the school's womens golf team.
	Ellen Tzu-chun Kuo Taichung, Taiwan University of Geneva European Studies 2004	Since college, Ellen Kuo has always maintained an active and enthusiastic interest in both youth political participation and international affairs. Ellen received her B.A. in French from Tamkang University. She had the unique opportunity to study at the University of Montreal and the University of Geneva. These experiences allowed her to better understand the world in a more nuanced and multi-faceted manner. For the last 3 years Ellen worked at the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Headquarters in the departments of Youth Development and International Affairs. Throughout her time abroad and working at the DPP, she has learned more about the extremely difficult international situation which Taiwan faces. She hopes to apply her experience from the Ambassadors Program to her future research and work on the European Union.
	Amy Fay Lin Sugar Land, TX University of Texas Business, Finance B.S. 2007
	Joseph Lin Bayside, NY New York University Social-Cultural Analysis B.S. 2011	Joseph Lin is pursuing a B.A. in Social and Cultural Analysis, with concentrations in Asian/Pacific/American Studies and Latino Studies. In addition, he is pursuing a Spanish minor and an East Asian Studies minor. He hopes to encourage the political activism of Asian-Americans in the United States by borrowing from the experiences of Latin-American activists. In 2006, Joseph campaigned for his state senator, Frank Padavan, encouraging the Asian constituents to vote. Recently, he has delved into Taiwanese political and cultural history, struck by a clinging sense of belonging to his roots. He is a proud member of TASS, the NYU Taiwanese-American Student Society. He is also proud to be a part of the 2008 class of Formosa Ambassadors! Joseph continues to tackle the Chinese language and the Taiwanese dialect. In his spare time, he loves playing Scrabble, acting and reading.
	Richard Lin Taipei, Taiwan MIT Material Science B.S. 2009	Richard Lin was born in Cleveland, Ohio but relocated to Taiwan with his family at a very young age. He is a third-year student at MIT, double majoring in materials science and biology and minoring in history. In his free time, Richard enjoys traveling and reading.
	Erica Ling Hacienda Heights, CA UC San Diego Political Science/IR B.A. 2010	Erica Ling pursues her interest in political science whenever possible, most notably during high school when she interned for U.S. Representative Edward R. Royce.At school Erica promotes the Taiwanese American identity as an active member of UCSD's Taiwanese American Student Association. She served as the 2007-2008 Cultural Chair and will serve as the 2008-2009 Vice President. In her spare time Erica enjoys traveling, shopping, and golfing. Erica loves learning about other cultures, and plans to study abroad at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan for the 2008 academic fall quarter.
	Winifred Liu Kaohsiung, Taiwan Nat'l Kaohsiung First University English M.A. 2008	Wen-Jiun Winifred Liu has served as a delegate in various international and national forums, either representing her youth generation or her country, including the 2006 Asia-Pacific Youth Festival, the 8th China Synergy Programme for Outstanding Youth. Winifred is a member of the Adolescent Consultation Team of the National Youth Commission.
	D. Corey Sanderson Pittsburgh, PA Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania English Education & Asian Studies B.A. 2008	Discovering an affinity toward Taiwan during his sophomore year, D. Corey Sanderson was led to claim a second major in Asian Studies. In 2007 he spent 7 months in Taiwan as an exchange student to Tamkang University. In the United States, he spends his time tutoring Taiwanese nationals in English as well as partaking in and organizing social awareness rallies on campus. Corey considers himself an easy going individual who tries to find the best in everything and situation. In his spare time, Corey enjoys reading historical non-fiction and hard science fiction, writing, the occasional game of Mahjong, playing the guitar, photography, and struggling through Mandarin Chinese.
	Sean Su Woodhaven, NY New York University M.S. Industrial Design	Sean Su came to the United States at the age of 1and lived almost all of his life in New York City. In the past 4 years Sean Su has been busy connecting the youth community with the general Taiwanese American first generation community in the NY metro area. Sean believes the spreading of information on Taiwan's situation ranging from its history to its current day politics is vital towards growing 2nd generation interest. As a result Sean Su maintains several websites that detail the important issues of Taiwan today. Sean graduated from Polytechnic University in 2004 and is owner of a bicycle company and an internet company.
	Karen Yang Fountain Valley, CA UC San Diego Linguistics B.A. 2008	Karen Yang is a student at the University of California, San Diego, with a major in Linguistics and minors in Psychology and Sociology. Through her experiences in college and her involvement with the chapter of Amnesty International on campus, Karen has developed an interest in human rights issues and foreign affairs that has altered the way she looks out at the world and influenced her plans for life. Karen now hopes to pursue further studies in those areas, and because of her lifelong passion for Taiwanese politics, to one day work toward furthering Taiwan's cause. In her spare time, enjoys reading and learning other languages.
	Rebecca Yeh Parsippany, NJ Columbia University International Affairs M.A. 2009	Born and partly educated in Taiwan, Rebecca Yeh is studying economics policy at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs and looking forward to combining her private sector finance and accounting background with knowledge in economics to help the world become a better place. She is also an active leader in Taiwan Focus, a student group at SIPA that focuses on educating the Columbia community on Taiwan and Taiwanese American issues. In addition, Rebecca initiated the first educational trip to Taiwan during March 2008 for Columbia graduate students. Rebecca was a financial analyst at a Fortune 500 company and also worked as an economics research assistant at the Institute of Economics at the Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. During her spare time, she loves to attend concerts and travel.