SWLAW Blog | Diversity
June 8, 2022
Introducing our 2022 Asian Pacific American Law Student Association Board Members
We are thrilled to introduce the following group of students as the next generation of innovators and leaders helming our Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.
Southwestern APALSA is dedicated to advancing the academic, professional, and social interests of all past, present, and future members by addressing issues impacting the AAPI legal community.
Co-President - Andrew Meily
Year: Rising 3L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: Entertainment Lawyer/Production Counsel
Activities: Lead Articles Editor- Law Journal; Clinician- Ent. & the Arts Legal Clinic; APALSA; Entertainment Law Society
He says: "Stay the course. When thwarted try again: harder, smarter. Persevere relentlessly." John Wooden
Fun Fact: Lumpia is my favorite food.
Asian Role Model: My parents and older sisters.
Co-President - Delys Fang
Year: Rising 3L, Part-Time Evening
Future Aspiration: Estate Planning/Probate
Activities: Dean’s Fellow; APALSA; Teaching Assistant for Contracts (Dani Hart);
She says: "To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right." Confucius
Fun Fact: My first name is misspelled. Ask me for the story!
Asian Role Model: My mother. My older female cousins. Lucy Liu.
Co-Vice President - Dean Matsuyama
Year: 4L, Part-Time Evening
Future Aspiration: Someone who makes a difference in the lives of others; hopefully, we leave the world in better condition than we found it.
Activities: Among other things, Moot Court Honors Program, Dean's Fellow, Teaching Assistant for Professor William Wood, and paralegal at the Children's Law Center of California.
He says: I'll let you know when I figure it out. Until then, I leave you with this: "[Calvin:] They say the world is a stage. But obviously, the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. [Hobbes:] Maybe that's why it's hard to tell if we're in a tragedy or a farce."
Fun Fact: My books are generally arranged by cover color.
Asian Role Model: My mother and father. Thank you for everything.
Co-Vice President - Joyce Jeong
Year: 2L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: Intellectual Property/Patent Attorney
Activities: LAIPLA Diversity Fellowship IP Intern at Edwards Lifesciences; Secretary, Intellectual Property Law Society; Production Coordinator, Law Commentator
She says: It’s never too late to be what you might have been.
Fun Fact: My brother and I are Irish twins.
Asian Role Model: My parents.
Secretary - Andrea Yeam
Year: 3L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: To become someone useful for my community.
Activities: LADA summer externship.
She says: "Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit." — Vince Lombardi
Fun Fact: I split my chin open once while cliff diving.
Asian Role Model: Sandra Oh.
Treasurer - Ken Villanueva
Year: 3L, Part-Time Evening
Future Aspiration: To be successful enough to give my two dogs the backyard they deserve.
Activities: Trial Advocacy Honors Program; Law and Medicine Society; Southwestern Golf Society; OUTLaw; Dean’s Fellow; Research Assistant for Professor Hart
He says: "Mas marami ang magagawa sa pag-ibig kaysa sa takot"/"More can be done out of love than fear"
Fun Fact: I don’t like the taste of coconut.
Asian Role Model: My cousin, Dr. Ariane Buenaventura.
Co-Communications Chair - Kasey Takahashi
Year: 2L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: Still deciding what type of lawyer I want to be, but eventually want to be a judge.
Activities: DA's office, previous intern at LA Superior Courts.
She says: MAMBA MENTALITY
Fun Fact: I'm an avid dog lover and hope to eventually own a dog sanctuary.
Asian Role Model: Sandra Oh.
Co-Communications Chair - Mikaela Almeda
Year: Rising 2L, Part-Time Day
Future Aspiration: I want to be a lawyer that helps those who can’t help themselves.
Activities: I’m a part-time student, so besides school, I work full time as an online English tutor for elementary-middle school students.
She says: "Hard work is worthless for those who don’t believe in themselves."
Fun Fact: I like playing video games and watching gameplay videos in my free time.
Asian Role Model: My grandpa, Lolo May.
Academic Chair - Dana Sutherland-Ward
Year: Rising 2L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: Corporate/Securities Law Attorney
Activities: LADA Major Crimes Unit, Judicial Extern at Los Angeles Superior Court
She says: "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." — Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Fun Fact: I like learning new languages.
Asian Role Model: Sandra Oh.
Professional Development Chair - Tsen-Yin (Pecko) Lin
Year: SCALE II
Future Aspiration: To be happy and to appreciate every moment in life.
Activities: APALSA, Tax Law Society.
She says: 加油 /jiā yóu! (a phrase expressing encouragement, like “you got this!”)
Fun Fact: I can wiggle my ears.
Asian Role Model: My mom.
Diversity and Inclusion Chair - Lawrence Liu
Year: Rising 2L, Traditional Day
Future Aspiration: Working for the man (IRS)
Activities: Secretary for OUTlaw 2022-2023
He says: "You’re my favorite child." — Mom
Fun Fact: I make a mean Birria taco.
Asian Role Model: Robert Kiyosaki - Rich Dad Poor Dad.