Mimi Phùng (she/her)

Mimi Phùng’s work includes education, immigration, and the Vietnamese community. Her career first began as a public high school teacher in Title I schools, where she saw first-hand how policy and privilege affect students and their families. Currently, she works at UC San Diego and is passionate about advancing success for first-generation students like herself. Outside of her work at UC San Diego, she volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club in the Career Pathways Program, which helps high school students prepare to enter college or the workforce.

Mimi’s work in social justice and community organizing in the San Diego area first began when she joined the San Diego ACLU as a volunteer. Since then, she has participated in various campaigns and political actions, and now serves as a co-chair of the Advancing Immigrant Rights team. Mimi holds her Vietnamese heritage close to her, and spends her time organizing

and volunteering for the Vietnamese community. Mimi is a board member at Viet Voices, where she first began as a volunteer. She has planned events for the Vietnamese community, from organizing civic education events to hosting a bi-monthly Vietnamese book club.

At the heart of her work is the belief in dignity for all people. As the daughter of Vietnamese immigrant parents, she continually works towards understanding how her family’s and Vietnamese community’s experiences intersect with present-day issues and broader struggles for equity. She is also a steadfast advocate that “ordinary people can do extraordinary things.