About Christine
Christine is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees and a first generation high school graduate. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the University of Washington studying Educational Leadership, Policy & Organizations. Her prior experiences include teaching middle and high school for the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as engaging in local, state, and federal policy and program analysis work across the United States in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City, and Seattle.
Christine obtained her bachelor's degrees in Asian American Studies and English, as well as a Master of Education from UCLA. She also holds a Master of Arts in sociology from Columbia University in the City of New York.  
Her research interests include: school nutrition, equity, P-20 education, policy implementation, and organizational studies.
What's New
Awards
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Ruth Blakely West Scholarship, 2014-2015
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National Education Association Outstanding Local Leader National Award, 2005
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UCLA Women for Change Student Leadership Award, 2004
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Spencer Research Training Grant Institute, UCLA School of Education, 2003
Overview of Interests
Cross-sector collaborations and sharing scholarly work to diverse audiences are important aspects in Christine's professional work. In order to promote effective policy and services, it is key for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students to learn and inform one another.
Nutrition education in schools and the community-at-large is an important aspect in Christine's professional work. The understanding of and relationship with food can help promote healthy living and better health outcomes. She frequents farmers and public markets to support the local food economy, learn from farmers, and experience biodiversity of our food system. (Pictured are Chioggia beets from Nash's Organics in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley in Washington.)
Christine volunteered at Pike Place Market's Education Program to help teach school-aged children about the history and community of one of the oldest continuously operated public farmers' markets in the United States. Teaching youth about food, social services, and community helps provide a strong foundation for good nutrition, community awareness, and civic participation.
Cross-sector collaborations and sharing scholarly work to diverse audiences are important aspects in Christine's professional work. In order to promote effective policy and services, it is key for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and students to learn and inform one another.
Recent Presentations & Articles
November 2016
Author. Iconic Neighborhood Restaurants: South El Monte and El Monte. KCET. Los Angeles, CA.
July 2016
Ishimaru, A.M., Torres, K., Salvador, J., Lott, J., Williams, D., & Tran, C. Reinforcing Deficit, Journeying Toward Equity Cultural Brokering in Family Engagement Initiatives. American Educational Research Journal.
May 2016
Author. Eating Locally for All: Getting Farmers Markets CalFresh EBT Ready. KCET. Los Angeles, CA.
December 2015
Co-Presenter. Re-Imaging Epidemic Communication Strategies: A Forum for Best Practices for Response and Preparedness. Emerging Leaders in Science & Society Fellowship Presentation at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Washington, D.C.