APSS Staff
APSS Director: Michelle Ko
Michelle Ko is a long-time community educator and leader who has conducted leadership and diversity trainings with the LeaderShape Institute, Korea Society, Organization of Chinese Americans, National Equity Center, National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference, New York University, Emory University, Georgetown University and Columbia University. She has taught courses at Columbia University, The City College of New York, and Loyola Marymount University.
Committed to increasing access and equity in post-secondary education, she was a long-time volunteer mentor and board member for NYC's Asian Professional Extension, an organization committed to the personal development of disadvantaged Asian American youth. She has regularly served as a reader for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program and a consultant for the New York Times College Prep Seminar.
Michelle's work as an educator extends to environmental and community advocacy through her volunteer service with the Speaker's Bureau of Heal the Bay (an environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters safe and healthy for people and marine life) and her service with the Southern California steering committee of Project by Project (a national organization of social entrepreneurs which uses new methods of raising awareness, volunteerism and capital for the non-profit community). A theatre-enthusiast, Michelle currently serves on the board of directors for the Lodestone Theatre Ensemble which is committed to providing a forum for Asian Pacific American artists involved in all aspects of the theatre arts seeking to challenge the limited perceptions of Asian Pacific Americans.
In 2002, she was named one of the Top 30, Under 30 Most Influential Asian Pacific Americans in America by Political Circus. In 2007, she was presented with the Herstory Award for National Women's History Month honoring her contributions to creating a more equitable and just environment for women at Loyola Marymount University and the larger community.
Ms. Ko completed her B.A. at the UC Irvine and studied at Columbia University where she completed her M.A. and Ed.M. in Student Personnel Administration and her doctoral coursework in Higher Education Administration. Michelle served as a student affairs administrator at Columbia University and launched a national Asian American non-profit organization before arriving at Loyola Marymount University in 2002.
APSS Special Projects Coordinators (SPCs)
Joey Aguilo, '09
Ben Biscocho, '10
Sarah Fukui, '11
Kimmie Hoang, '10
Brian Kang, '12
Ashley Lin, '12
Michelle Liu, '12
Lara Torii, '10
Nathan Tran, '12
Amanda Wah, '10
APSS Special Projects Assistant (SPA)
Gonzalo Puig, '12