Conference Board 2014
Sharon G. Lin
Executive Director
Current School: UNC School of Law, 2L
Hometown: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Undergraduate School: University of California, Davis
Field of Interest: Corporate, IP & Privacy
Dream Job: In-house Counsel for the Walt Disney Company
Interest in Civil Rights: In college, I studied many instances of injustice to Asian Americans that were never rectified and still remain unresolved. History has shown that if no one steps up and speaks out, Asian Americans will have essentially handed others the privilege of whiting out Asian American civil rights. Knowing this, I cannot help but be interested in Asian American civil rights.
Fun Fact: I was a co-founder and the president of the Taiwanese American Organization at the University of California Davis.
Josephine Kim
Assistant Director
Current School: UNC School of Law, 2L
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Undergraduate School: University of Washington
Field of Interest: International Business, Media Law, IP
Dream Job: CLO of LVMH
Interest in Civil Rights: Considering the exponential growth of the Asian population in NC, I find it important to promote presence and for issues be recognized and fixed. Hopefully our conference will be influential to the inclusion of an underrepresented race in the legal community.
Fun Fact: A character is designed to resemble me in an online game.
Hillary Li
Programming Chair
Yishi Yin
Outreach Chair
Ronald Tran
Logistics Chair
Current School: UNC School of Law, 2L
Hometown: Portland, OR
Undergraduate School: Emory University
Field of Interest: Public interest, Civil/Human Rights
Dream Job: Supreme Court Justice
Interest in Civil Rights: I have always been passionate about civil rights; I was involved in diversity work in college and I continue to do so in law school through my pro bono work. I also grew up as a second generation Chinese American, and learned a lot about oppression of Asian Americans both in my family and in the country.
Fun Fact: I lift weights and recently joined the crossfit club!
Current School: UNC School of Law, 2L
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate School: Georgia State University
Field of Interest: IP, Startup Law, Privacy
Dream Job: Professor
Interest in Civil Rights: I think Asians need to be more vocal about their lives and stories.
Fun Fact: It is my dream to sail around the world in a sailboat.
Christine John
Logistics Chair
Current School: UNC School of law, 1L
Hometown: Lake Forest, CA
Undergraduate School: University of California, Davis
Field of Interest: Corporate, Business
Dream Job: Next Elon Musk with a legal twist
Interest in Civil Rights: Discrimination and repression stunts the growth of a society, creating suffering, ignorance, and misery. The sad reality is that this foulness still exists and continues to be fed by cowards.
Fun Fact: I have urges to tear things apart to see how they are made, which can be costly. Therefore, I do things like build my own computers and maintain my car.
Varsha Mangal
Tresurer
Current School: UNC School of Law, 1L
Hometown: Orland Park, IL
Undergraduate School: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Field of Interest: Corporate and International Business
Dream Job: Foreign Service Officer
Interest in Civil Rights: As a first generation Indian American, I have seen, heard, or read about family members, friends, and even Indian Americans in pop culture struggle to be seen or recognized past the stereotypes that surround our culture. I think it's important that everyone be able to express their point of views freely and live their lives without fear of discrimination or bias.
Fun fact: Despite hailing from the Chicagoland area, I am a die-hard Green Bay Packers Fan!
Current School: UNC School of Law, 2L
Hometown: Princeton Jct., NJ
Undergraduate School: Washington University in St. Louis
Field of Interest: Corporate, IP and Media Law
Dream Job: A Disney Heroine
Interest in Civil Rights: I have always been passionate about diversity and believe that all individuals bring something new and original to the table. However, the path to acceptance and achieving diversity has been long and tumultuous. These obstacles will surely not resolve themselves quickly, but with continued perseverance, we can inch closer and closer to breaking down barriers to achieve understanding, and consequently develop respect for all types of people.
Fun Fact: If an “a” is added to the end of my last name, my full name becomes a holiday that is celebrated in India!