David Chih

Director
he/him/his

Dr. David Chih is the founding director of the UIUC Asian American Cultural Center which opened in 2005. For over 30 years, David has focused on issues of diversity and inclusion in higher education with particular emphasis on Asian American and international student communities. Since coming to UIUC in 1998, he has served as assistant dean of students for Asian Pacific American Affairs and as a clinical counselor in the Counseling Center. He also served as interim associate vice chancellor for student affairs and director of the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations which is comprised of UIUC’s eight cultural/resource centers. He has received the outstanding commitment in education award from the Illinois State Treasurer, UIUC Student Affairs outstanding staff award, and UIUC outstanding Asian American faculty-staff award. He received a PhD in counseling psychology and a BA in East Asian studies and psychology from Indiana University, an MS in psychology from Purdue University, and completed a doctoral internship in psychology at Michigan State University Counseling Center. David is a second-generation Chinese American born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana.

Flordemia dela Vega Conrad

Office Manager
she/her/hers

Flordemia has worked in the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR) since 2009 with La Casa Cultural Latina, Native American House, and Diversity & Social Justice Education. She earned a B.A. in mass communication from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Philippines. She likes learning about the wide array of cultures and backgrounds of the students and staff with whom she works with. Flordemia likes to spend time with her family, friends and her beloved pet dog and also enjoys listening to variety of music, traveling, food tasting, cooking and gardening. Flordemia is a first-generation Filipina American who came to the US in 2003. 

Amy Kyung-Eun Breslin

Associate Director
she/her/hers

Amy has facilitated capacity building initiatives for over a decade through fostering strategic partnerships with community stakeholders and advocating for systems change through community-led solutions. As a public library practitioner, Amy's work focused on literacy justice through inclusive collections, library programs, and transformative spaces that support cross-cultural understanding and build intercommunity solidarity. Amy serves on the Executive Board for the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and on the Political Education Working Group for OPAWL: Building AAPI Feminist Leadership. She was named a Mover and Shaker - Educator by Library Journal and received a JCLC Advocacy Award from APALA. Born in Seoul, Amy is a Korean adoptee, and has resided much of her life in Cleveland, OH. Amy received her Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University and a BS in Biology from Ashland University. When not working, Amy loves spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Kayla Nguyen

Assistant Director
she/they

Kayla worked at the University of Iowa Asian Pacific American Cultural Center for five years, serving in part-time student roles as well as a full-time professional Program Coordinator. Kayla is a second-generation Vietnamese American from Des Moines, Iowa. A proud first-generation college student, she earned a BA from University of Iowa in Interdepartmental Studies, Applied Human Services track with Community-Based Services emphasis. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys having matcha lattes, trying new hobbies, learning how to make Vietnamese home cooked meals, and learning new things.

Will Yepsen

Program Coordinator
he/him/his

Will attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with a BA in Political Science and Asian American Studies. Will is a Korean adoptee and has lived in Central Illinois for the majority of his life. During his time as an undergraduate student, Will interned at the Asian American Cultural Center, where he served as the Asian Pacific American Alumni Leadership intern during his senior year. Besides his work at the cultural center, Will worked for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a campus tour guide and was a Resident Advisor for University Housing. He was also involved with the Illinois Student Council, where he served as the Chairperson for the Committe on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and was the President of In Between at Illinois. While not working, Will enjoys video games, cooking, reading, and trying new restaurants on campus. Will looks forward to working to better the Asian and Asian American student experience on campus.