Board Members & Staff

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Liz is a Taiwanese American from the suburbs of Detroit. After studying psychology at the University of Michigan, she got a PhD in clinical psychology, as well as master's degrees in psychology and theology, from Fuller Theological Seminary. She’s been many things – a therapist, a professor, and a writer, among others – but her most life-giving work has been facilitating this space for progressive Asian American Christians and seeing people (including herself!) thrive and flourish as a result. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with her spouse and children.

Co-Founder and Board Advisor

Lydia is an ordained minister in the PCUSA, currently working at a nondenominational church in the Boston area called Reservoir Church. She is a Korean American immigrant and Pastor's Kid that grew up all over the US -- Georgia, Kansas, California. After getting a BA from UCLA in Political Science, Lydia worked in the political campaign world briefly, but soon went onto seminary where she learned of liberation, feminist, and queer theology. She dreams of a day when Asian Americans, especially Christians and/or those who grew up Christian, will all know themselves as beloved, beautiful, and free from religious dogmas and be exactly themselves.

Board Member

Serena first learned about PAAC when her college friend added her to the Facebook group in 2016.  She quickly found her people and the LGBTQ+ folks and hasn’t looked back. In addition to being a PAAC board member, Serena also serves on the National Board of Directors for StartOut, an organization committed to the economic empowerment of LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.  Serena tirelessly works to queer the innovation economy as a Relationship Manager for Climate Tech companies at Silicon Valley Bank and also as a co-founder of Prism, a network for queer tech founders.  She lives in San Jose, CA, with her wife, kids (2 humans, 1 dog), and her many lego sets.

Board Member

Stella is a writer, a former homeschool mom, the former Living Justice editor for PAAC’s Diverging Magazine, and currently one half of the Brazn Azn podcast. Born and raised in sunny SoCal, she thinks a lot about queering norms, what liberation means, and how everything eventually comes full circle. She believes there is no end to the process of becoming who you are.

Social Media Coordinator

Deborah is a native New Yorker who loves dogs, memes, travelling, and eating. Depending on her mood, you might see her out and about exploring(maybe even spontaneously leaving the country) or not hear from her because she is binge watching reality tv shows.

Project Manager

Aya is a queer second-generation Japanese American raised in the midwest. She currently resides on Duwamish land (Seattle, Washington) where she has been living for 20+ years and organizing for Seattle PAAC since 2017. Aya enjoys staying at home, variations of organizing + making lists (Virgo + 1w2), cats, topiaries, hockey, beer, soft serve ice cream, exploring her parents' home prefectures of Miyagi + Iwate Japan, and running her photography business.