Title: Assistant Dean of Advising
About Winnie
Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in:
August 2026
M.S.Ed., Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Pennsylvania
A.B., East Asian Studies, Bryn Mawr College
How did you get here?
Before coming to Cal, my advising work at UC Santa Cruz centered on projects to improve academic advising processes and help students cross the finish line and reach graduation. That work is part of a longer thread running through my career: a commitment to expanding access to higher education and helping students thrive once they get there, from my time at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, to Portland State University. Each of these experiences shaped how I think about advising today — not just as a service, but as a way to open doors for students who might not otherwise see a clear path forward.
My approach to advising is rooted in intentionality and inclusivity. I try to create a space where every student feels genuinely welcomed and where no question is too basic to ask — listening first, then offering guidance that fits the person in front of me, not a one-size-fits-all script.
What advice do you have for L&S students in general?
Life may take you down a winding road — the destination is often unknown, and that's okay! Focus less on having it all figured out and more on staying curious and open to what each step teaches you. The most important part is not reaching a fixed destination, it is enjoying — and learning from — the journey along the way.
Not unusual per se, but my first after school job as a freshman in high school was working at an Italian bakery in Brooklyn. Perks of the job included being able to take home all the broken cookies!
I am a first-generation college graduate, and that experience shapes a lot of how I show up for students and staff — I know firsthand what it feels like to navigate spaces where your sense of belonging is questioned. Outside of work, you will usually find me at the pottery wheel, losing track of time.
