AsEA Conference 2025

As Executive Director of Her Term, Han is dedicated to helping women step into political leadership. With a background spanning corporate business and community activism, she’s been recognized by the Obama Foundation Leaders USA program (2024) and named one of Atlanta’s 500 most powerful people. Unseen to Heard: How Asian Americans Are Harnessing Collective Power How do you turn being overlooked into meaningful influence? Han Pham’s journey—from feeling unseen to driving political and community change—offers powerful lessons in representation, resilience, and collective action. Drawing from her experience in Georgia, where a historic surge in Asian voter turnout reshaped political engagement, Han will share insights on community empowerment and bridging cultural divides. Whether you’re an educator, advocate, or engaged citizen, you’ll gain practical strategies to amplify voices and drive change.

Weonhee was raised in rural Virginia, spent her formative 20s in Boston, and currently resides with her family in Decatur, GA. As a parent of three public school children and founder of Asian American Voices for Education, she advocates for all Georgia students to know they belong, are valued, and are empowered in the classroom. As a deep believer in the power of local community engagement, she began DEI committees in her children's schools and serves on the board of the Decatur Education Foundation and the Georgia Council for History Education. She has been featured on NPR, NBC News and GPB for her work in GA K-12 education and advocacy. I Am Enough: Individual Power in Community Resistance Weonhee's story of her unexpected path to founding the first Asian American-focused K-12 nonprofit in Georgia. As a former hotel manager then stay-at-home mom, education advocacy is something she would have never imagined. Hear how her hahlmuhnee's stories, hotel sales manager training, and raising her children led her to where she is today. And be encouraged to know you are invaluable in our collective resistance.

Are you wondering about starting your leadership journey? Or maybe you are actively hoping to advance? The AsEA Conference Leadership Lab is just what you need. According to National Association of Independent Schools data, there will be a significant leadership need within independent schools due to a high turnover rate among heads and senior administrators, with many expecting to leave their current positions within the next few years. The AsEA Leadership Lab aims to support the career development of AANHPI educators who are currently in leadership positions or those who aspire to be in these roles. Learn from these amazing leaders in our independent schools! Faculty: Abe Pachikara - Associate Head of Upper School, Mount Vernon School Chia-Chee Chiu - Incoming Assistant Head of Academics, Park Tudor School Christina Kyong - Head of School, Madeira School Geetha Holdsworth - Head of School, Miquon School Juna McDaid - Head of School, San Francisco School Kavan Yee - Director of Middle School, Lowell School Ricco Siasoco - Dean of Student Life and Culture, Waverly School

Gathering of student leaders from eligible independent high schools across the U.S. and abroad. The students focus on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adults and peer facilitators, participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.