LEADERSHIP · President · formerly External VP
Vietnamese Student Organization
Outside of classes and runs, I spent the bulk of my time as the President of the Vietnamese Student Organization at the University of Florida.
It's a cultural organization founded in 1973, when some of the first Vietnamese immigrants came to the U.S. for opportunity and education, and wanted a place that felt like home on a distant continent. What started as a dinner gathering over Vietnamese food in Gainesville has grown into an annually celebrated community that roughly 19 student leaders pour themselves into. As President, I oversee the organization's overall operations.
Cultural Shows
Our cultural shows are the big hits. Each semester we celebrate Vietnamese holidays — Mid-Autumn and Lunar New Year — bringing the culture to campus through dance groups, performances, catering, and event programming. This year we expanded the show from the 800-seat Reitz Student Union Ballroom to the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Through contingency planning with UF's AV team, our faculty advisor, and budget allocation from Student Government, we grew to over 1,400 attendees, 120 volunteers, and a $22,000 budget. For the first time in the organization's 52 years, we could accommodate larger dance groups, live-stream the show, and host more of our community alongside the Performing Arts Center's staff.
Pho Fundraiser
The Pho Fundraiser is VSO's premier annual philanthropic event. What began as a small campus initiative has grown into a large-scale community event where over 40 officers and volunteers serve more than 300 students and Gainesville residents. It celebrates Vietnamese culture while raising awareness for healthcare disparities in rural Vietnam, and it's remarkably efficient — generating over $3,000 in just eight hours. 100% of the proceeds support the Vietnam Health Clinic (VHC), a non-profit that deploys mobile clinics offering free exams, treatments, and medications to underserved villages. Beyond the funds, the event doubles as a leadership and cultural workshop: volunteers learn traditional cooking techniques from alumni and gain hands-on experience in large-scale logistics, budgeting, marketing, and sponsorship.
Mentor–Mentee (Anh Chi Em)
With a student community of over 300, we run a mentor–mentee program where our Public Relations director matches members across different perspectives into family groups. These groups bond and build long-lasting connections that carry on as they mentor the underclassmen who follow them.