Join the Board
Hmong Museum is looking for Board Members to shape the future of the organization and continue its important mission of recognizing and acknowledging the intersections of all things Hmong. Download Board Description PDF
Ntxim Siab Lee , Chair
Ntxim Siab graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in social work from Metropolitan State University. Ntxim Siab has worked with and advocated for individuals who are impacted by mental health and disabilities by being providing resources about wavier services, and person centered methods to meet the needs of each individual. Ntxim Siab has volunteered in various events with Hmong Museum as a Project Coordinator. Ntxim Siab is passionate in preserving the Hmong Culture by using different methods to engage each generational groups and educating other communities on who Hmong people are. On her free time, Ntxim Siab enjoys gardening and working on DIY home projects.
Chuayi Yang, Secretary
” ‘Deep roots anchor strong trees.’ — I believe a Hmong museum will remind the Hmong community how valuable its cultural storytelling practices are for healing, rejoicing, learning, and reconnecting. A Hmong Museum can provide opportunities and spaces for the community to seek, remember, and fill its hearts with all the narratives that make up the Hmong journey.”
Nancy Xiong, Treasurer
Nancy Xiong is currently the Portfolio Manager at Hmong American Partnership, supporting startups and small businesses with financial education and technical assistance. She was the Capacity Building Director of the Hmong American Farmers Association. Nancy completed a master’s degree in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations from SIT Graduate Institute and a master’s degree in Sociology and Women & Gender Studies from George Mason University. She has over 10 years of work experience in the social justice field particularly in gender-based violence, gender equity, and community organizing, and serving as a diversity and inclusion educator and trainer. During her free time, Nancy likes to make art, write, travel and spend time with her family and be a fun and loving auntie to her nieces and nephews.
Mai Nhia Vang, Founder and Interim Executive Director
“I am excited about the possibility of permanently preserving Hmong history and share the ever-expanding history of our heritage.”
Mai Vang is Collections Manager for the Minnesota Museum of American Art. She is a passionate museum enthusiast with extensive experience in collection care and curation, exhibit development, museum education, and grant writing. Mai holds a Master’s of Science degree in Anthropology and Museum Studies Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After graduating she founded the Hmong Museum Initiative, which has been her dream for over a decade. Previously she completed a fundraising campaign for the Richfield Historical Society as Executive Director and was Curator at the Minnesota Discovery Center where she successfully designed and managed a permanent exhibit renovation, drastically increased attendance through educational programming, and established professional excellence in collection management.
Chee Meng Xiong, Development & Partnership Manager
Chee Meng is Co-Founder and a Principal for Collective Purpose, a multi-disciplinary community engagement practice. He has experience working with Communities of Color towards the planning and updates of public parks, public-serving spaces, and assets. Prior to Collective Purpose, he worked for the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and Ackerberg Group. Chee Meng was a member of the Generation Listen Advisory Council at American Public Media and served the Board of Directors for the Minneapolis Art Lending Library. Chee Meng splits his time between Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN.
Lee Pao Xiong, Advisor
“I am excited at a chance to preserve and showcase our history, culture, and language.”
He is currently the Executive Director at the Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University. Xiong’s community experiences include being the founder of the Asian Economic Development Association (Formerly known as Asian Development Corporation), co-founder of the Hmong College Prep Academy, Community School of Excellence, the Dragon Boat Festival (formerly known as the Asian American Festival), and the Hmong Resource Fair. Currently, he is the Chair of the Hmong United Martial Arts Society and the Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc.
He is widely sought after as a speaker and trainer by many educational institutions, community organizations, and business groups to speak about Hmong history, culture, and society as well as on leadership and board governance. He is often sought out by filmmakers to provide knowledge content to documentaries and publishers to review books relating to the Hmong experiences prior to publication.
Lee Pao received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Hamline University. He has recently completed his Doctorate in Public Administration coursework at Hamline University.
July Vang, Advisor
“The Hmong Museum is an important construction for the community as a culturally significant heritage resource. The Hmong Museum will help build and strengthen personal and community identity, and pass onto the future generations.”
July Vang currently provides administrative leadership as Senior Admin Specialist to the Wilder Program of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul, MN. Vang’s extended involvement with local nonprofits includes serving as Board Secretary to Hmong Museum, Board Role to Green T Productions, and Program Advisory Council to Planned Parenthood. She brings in more than a decade of comprehensive corporate and nonprofit operations, process improvement, marketing, and strategic planning. Vang also has a diverse background in theatre and film medium including roles such as Bee in May Lee-Yang’s “Confession of a Lazy Hmong Woman,” Chai Vang’s wife in Investigation Discovery’s TV series of Fatal Encounter, “Terror in the Woods,” and focuses on creating conceptual performances by using insurgent themes relative to sexuality, family structure, and violence – commenting on oppressing themes in our contemporary society. Vang received her BA at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and MBA at Cardinal Stritch University.
Nalie Lee-Heidt, Volunteer, Digital
“The work Hmong Museum is doing is vital and will have impact on future generations. I am excited to be part of this amazing team–they are passionate, intelligent and inspiring!”
Nalie is an experience designer & strategist. She has over 10+ years as a user experience professional: researching human behavior and designing technical solutions to solve complex problems. She has experience leading large corporations through digital transformation by focusing on customer needs through journey mapping and customer feedback. As a chief digital strategist on Small Business Revolution, she helped transform small businesses across America. Nalie has a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.