Dr. Joliana Yee on Leading the Asian American Cultural Center with Heart

In this inspiring episode of Yale College Voices, host Darice Corey sits down with Dr. Joliana Yee, Assistant Dean of Yale College and Director of the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC). Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dr. Yee shares her remarkable journey from being a first-generation international student at Miami University to becoming a campus leader dedicated to fostering inclusion and belonging at Yale. Her story highlights the importance of curiosity, empathy, and resilience in navigating identity and leadership across cultures.

Dr. Yee reflects on how her early experiences in Malaysia’s multicultural environment and her “re-racialization” as an Asian international student in the U.S. shaped her commitment to social justice and higher education. From discovering her voice as a student leader to finding mentors who saw her potential, she reveals how these moments inspired her to pursue a career in student affairs and later lead one of Yale’s most dynamic cultural centers.

Together, Darice and Dr. Yee explore what community means in times of challenge—especially during the pandemic, when the AACC became a virtual home for connection and healing. They discuss the center’s ongoing mission to uplift student voices, build intergenerational mentorship, and celebrate cultural diversity. As Yale’s AACC approaches its 45th anniversary, Dr. Yee shares her hopes for its next chapter: a thriving, inclusive space where all students can find belonging, purpose, and pride in who they are.

• Podcast Host: Darice Corey | Senior Director of Web and IT Planning | Yale College Dean’s Office Staff Engagement Committee Co-Chair | Pierson College Fellow

• Podcast Guest: Dr. Joliana Yee | Assistant Dean of Yale College and Director of the Asian American Cultural Center (AACC)

• Video/Podcast Producer: Ryan McEvoy | Yale Broadcast Studio