professor

I’m a sociology Professor at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA. It’s an honor to receive awards and selected for leadership in teaching and programs including the Mana Program, the Transitions Program, Guided Pathways, Zero Textbook Costs, and the Academic Senate.

writer

My research and and publications focus on Vietnamese American experiences, Asian American studies. I’m most excited about my forthcoming memoir Love Letters to the Dirty South coming this fall 2026.

filmmaker

I’m an associate producer of the documentary “Seadrift” (2019) based on my research on Vietnamese in Texas. The film explores the historical events of the 1970s that led to racial tensions and KKK intimidation of Vietnamese American fishermen along the Gulf Coast. Watch the film on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, or Kanopy Films.

philanthropist

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." - Pablo Picasso
It is a joy to donate to multiple causes regularly, and one of my greatest acts of giving is to provide scholarships for MiraCosta College students including the On & Phat Ha Scholarship and the Hoang Vu Tran Memorial Scholarship (both endowed). Visit the MiraCosta Scholarship page to apply!

non-profit leader

It is a privilege and honor to be selected to lead multiple non-profits over the years. Currently, I am board president of the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association, board chair of the Doan Foundation, and founder/executive director of Collective Freedom which was seeded by my 2024 award from the Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice.

public speaker

I truly enjoy meeting with people to share ideas and learn from the community. Check out some of my conversations on the Kenneth Nguyen Podcast ep 97 and ep 388, Asian Voices season 4, Slamdance Film Festival 2019, the and Commonwealth Club of CA ep on Viet Progressives.