Husky 100

As a descendant of survivors of the great flood, colonization and ongoing assimilation, resilience and responsibility to my community guide my work and my studies in environmental science. During my time at the University of Washington, I focused on uplifting Indigenous perspectives through my involvement in campus organizations, leadership roles and environmental initiatives. I plan to study environmental law to help Indigenous communities, especially my own, prevent further ecological destruction and protect the natural world for the next seven generations.

UW has helped me find my voice and passion in the marine sciences. Since moving from Hong Kong and leaving my comfort zone, I have embraced the immersive opportunities at UW and beyond, engaging in independent research to understand the impact of environmental change on biological carbon export. Beyond research, I am involved in leadership positions focused on increasing accessibility in science, and I now approach graduation with confidence in my ability to make a meaningful impact — both through advancing scientific research and by minimizing barriers in the field.

My time at the UW has not boiled down solely to my identity as a transgender man competing in D1 rowing on the women’s team, the studies I have conducted surrounding Arctic Indigenous knowledge systems and their place in foreign policy, or accolades I have received along the way. Instead, it can be defined as a period of wanting to question all that I could, soaking in the love and knowledge that every one of my peers poured into this place and wanting to work toward creating a better tomorrow for everyone; a world that embraced open conversation rather than shunned it. The product of what has come of this time in the form of a degree, a Big Ten medal or the honor of being represented as a Husky 100 was never the end goal, but a mere tangible object that came from falling in love with the process of making connections and community during my time at the UW.

Across ecosystems and cultures, I have learned that meaningful leadership begins with listening, that discovery thrives on collaboration and that science is most powerful when connected to people and place. At the University of Washington, I’ve carried forward this learning by serving as Co-Chair of the Student Advisory Council to the Dean of the College of the Environment and Co-Chair of the Campus Sustainability Fund Committee, mentoring through the Interdisciplinary Honors Peer Mentoring Program, supporting outreach in the Dean’s Office, and engaging in interdisciplinary marine research in Puget Sound, the Mediterranean, and Bermuda. As I pursue graduate study in marine ecology and conservation, I remain committed to research that serves both ecosystems and communities, guided by the Husky values of curiosity, collaboration and community-centered discovery.