Leadership

Erica (she/her) is a second-generation Vietnamese American from Southern California. She has a BFA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Illustration and has had extensive work experience as a case manager and legal assistant for an employment law firm that is dedicated to representing clients who face discrimination in the workplace. Erica is grateful to now be in the MLIS program pursuing her dream career and excited to be part of the AANHPI iSchool Student Group. She stands for inclusivity and strives to make this student group a welcoming space for everyone.

Hi! I’m Tarunjot Chahal, a first-year grad student in the Informatics program at San Jose State. As a Punjabi American from California’s Central Valley, I value the importance of representation and inclusivity in academic and professional spaces. I joined the AANHPI iSchool Student Group to connect with others, celebrate our cultures, and help create a welcoming space where everyone feels seen and supported. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, scrapbooking, traveling, and trying new coffee shops.

Cat Tang (she/her) is a first-generation Chinese-American born during the Year of the Rabbit, which, fun fact, is the Year of the Cat in the Vietnamese zodiac, so technically she is indeed a cat. She participated in the formation of this group with the hope that it would raise awareness of the AANHPI presence in this field and create a space for AANHPI-identifying professionals to connect. Cat began her MLIS journey in spring 2023 and is now in her final year, set to graduate in spring 2026. She currently works for two different city public libraries in Los Angeles County, providing youth services and leading her library’s adult literacy program. When she’s not busy with work and school, Cat loves getting outdoors and being physically active, reading, gaming, and creating art. She invites you to connect with her! [LinkedIn | webpage]

Annette Godoy is a third-generation Mexican-American. She has a B.A. in Art History from UC Riverside and an A.A. in History. She currently works for L.A. County in social services and has served the local community for almost 15 years. She became a graduate student with SJSU in Spring 2024 and quickly joined the AANHPI group. She strongly believes in helping others and enjoys connecting with individuals from all cultures and backgrounds to promote a more unified world. Aside from her bibliophilic lifestyle, she also loves fashion, horror, baking, traveling, yoga, and everything ocean. 

It is my first year in the MLIS program, and I am a 4th generation Japanese American woman. I have a BA in Psychology from UCLA and an MA in Communication Disorders from CSULA, and I was a pediatric speech-language pathologist for 7 years. I decided to switch gears and become a children’s librarian because I’m passionate about literacy, love libraries, and love working with kids!

Maria Hu is a fourth-generation Filipino-American from sunny Southern California. She is in her final year of the SJSU iSchool MLIS program. A music teacher for 10 years, she holds a BA and MA in Music and Musicology from California State University, Long Beach. Maria’s career goal is to be an archivist and music librarian. She joined the AANPHI iSchool Student Group to connect with other cultures and to recognize the significance and contributions of AANPHI professionals in the field of library science and information.

Rose is a first-generation Chinese-American from Washington state. She has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature, and worked as a teacher in South Korea for three years. She now works at a public library where she enjoys working on the adult services team. She is excited to be a part of the AANHPI iSchool Student Group, as they work to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, photography, anything craft-related, reading, and learning new languages. 

Rea Sandhu is a second-generation Punjabi American from the Bay Area. She received her BA in English, with a Professional and Technical Writing concentration from SJSU. Currently, she’s pursuing the archival pathway in the MLIS program. She hopes to work as a digital archivist one day while preserving the cultural heritage of minority and marginalized communities. In her free time, she enjoys finding new movies to watch, listening to music, and playing video games.

Patricia (she/her) began her MLIS journey at SJSU in 2025 with a BFA (concentration in Entertainment Arts) from Cal State Fullerton. She is second-generation Vietnamese and was interested in joining AANHPI iSchool Group to connect with the program’s community. To relax, she likes to watch cooking and travel content, be inspired, and add new places to her travel bucket list. On other days, she enjoys hiking with friends and her two dogs, then enjoying a meal or two afterwards. 

Abigail is a second-generation Filipino-American. She hails from Southern California, where she grew up, enjoying its diverse community and trips to In-n-Out. She has a BFA specializing in Entertainment Art and Animation, especially Storyboards for TV and film. But her love for art didn’t end up leading her into the animation industry, instead guiding her to an interest in art history and cultural preservation. She is now pursuing her MLIS after starting in Fall 2024, hoping to find her way into an archive and work alongside those who organize and safeguard the works of humankind for generations to come.

Jesslyn Hull (she/they) is a fourth-generation Japanese-American and is in her first year as a grad student in the MLIS program. They have a B.A. in Design (with a Minor in Art History) from UC Davis, and an A.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She was a graphic designer for around two years, and worked for various organizations, such as the San Jose Sharks and UC Davis Athletics. They decided to switch from a career in the creative industry to library and information science because they are passionate about helping others and have had a strong love of books and reading from a young age! Currently, they work in marketing for an insurance company. You can find her gaming, reading, writing, listening to music and audiobooks, watching Youtube videos, TV shows, and movies, and hanging out with her friends in her spare time.

Dr. Michelle Chen joined the iSchool faculty in Fall 2012, bringing expertise in data analytics and online social network analysis. Previously, she taught at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Connecticut, and the University of San Francisco. Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems with a focus on statistics and computational learning from the University of Texas-Austin and M.S. and B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Information Engineering from National Taiwan University. In her spare time, Dr. Chen enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her family in the Bay Area.

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