Embracing Interconnectedness: Fafa Van Ha and Ryan Huynh's Inspiring Yale Stories

In this uplifting episode of "Yale College Voices," host Darice Corey welcomes two extraordinary contributors to the Yale community: Fafa Van Ha, the Lazarus Fellow in Food and Agriculture at the Yale Sustainable Food Program, and Ryan Huynh, the Woodbridge Fellow at the Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration. They share their unique journeys and transformative experiences at Yale, highlighting the power of learning from diverse perspectives, embracing uncertainty, and the profound interconnectedness of their personal and professional lives. Fafa recounts her inspiring path from social justice work in Chicago to her fellowship in Alaska, focusing on holistic health and food systems, while Ryan explores his passion for ethnicity, race, and migration studies, ignited by an eye-opening course on US history and the genocide of indigenous people.

As the conversation unfolds, Darice, Fafa, and Ryan delve into the nuances of storytelling through audio, particularly in preserving family histories and bridging generational gaps. Fafa shares her heartfelt experiences with language barriers and cultural differences, emphasizing her efforts to record her family's history through informal interviews and Asian American history studies. Ryan discusses his deeply personal senior thesis project on the second-generation experience and oral history interviews, which strengthened his connection to his family and their legacy. Their dialogue underscores the transformative power of audio storytelling in fostering connections and understanding individual identities.

Fafa and Ryan also discuss their impactful roles at Yale and the significant contributions they have made. Fafa passionately speaks about her involvement with educational programming at the Yale Sustainable Food Program and her transformative experiences in community building and mentoring. Ryan offers insights into his administrative role, supporting fellows programs and research related to race, indigeneity, and transnational migration. Their conversation highlights the opportunities and challenges of collaborative efforts across campus, the importance of centralized platforms for event promotion, and the enduring value of support systems and meaningful relationships. Tune in for a captivating discussion that celebrates the strength and impact of diverse voices at Yale, and be inspired by the remarkable journeys of Fafa and Ryan.

Podcast Host: Darice Corey | Senior Director of Web and IT Planning | Yale College Dean’s Office DEIB Advisory Committee Co-Chair

Podcast Guests:

Fafa Van Ha | Lazarus Fellow in Food and Agriculture at the Yale Sustainable Food Program

Ryan Huynh | Woodbridge Fellow at the Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration

Producer: Ryan McEvoy | Yale Broadcast Studio

Social Media Team and Content Creators:

Esther Donald Mwakisambwe ’25 | Yale School of the Environment

Thomasine Harris Fletcher ’25 | New Haven Promise Intern | Quinnipiac University

Parasmani Pandey ’25 | New Haven Promise Intern | Brandeis University

Kevin Sarango ‘25 | New Haven Promise Intern | UCONN