"In a nutshell, I have never left Fresno State since 1989 when I came to the United States," she said. "I have been a student of Fresno State, an employee, or both. Fresno State has been my home all along."

Sarah has served as the chair of the Department of Counseling and interim associate dean of the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. Before that, she served as an adjunct faculty from 1996 until 2001 when she began her tenure as an assistant professor.

Her story at Fresno State began in 1989 when she left her home town, Hong Kong, to come to Fresno State as an international student in the M.S. in Counseling: Option in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling program.

"At that time, there was no counseling program in Hong Kong that met my educational and career goals," she said.

After graduation in December 1991, she began her counseling career, first in Comprehensive Youth Services, and then in FCEOC Head Start. Meanwhile, she enrolled in Fresno State’s Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling program.

While an adjunct faculty, she enrolled in the joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership offered by UC Davis and Fresno State. Her career developed from an assistant professor to full professor and interim associate dean.

"I became interested in the field of international education during my second year of college when I joined a group of fellow students to visit India, Nepal, and Bangladesh for one month to immerse in their cultures through networking with World Vision and local churches," she said.

According to Sarah, international education is life changing. Both observing and interacting with a diverse group of people across the national borders have shaped her empathy and her national identity in a global context.

She has a personal mission of transforming individuals into people who stand for world peace and social justice.

As the assistant vice president for International Affairs, she feels honored to bring the best of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners together for the common goal of transformative learning through internationalization efforts.

As a senior-level administrator in the Division of Academic Affairs, she provides strategic leadership for the development, operation, and administration of a full-range of international education programs as specified in the Plan for Excellence.

She develops, administers, and assesses a full range of activities in order to support the increase in enrollment of international students at Fresno State and integrate international and domestic students as a learning community.

She believes international and domestic students can inspire one another and discover new knowledge that promotes their academic distinction and appreciation of diversity across cultures and borders.

Most importantly, she believes people can be advocates for the common good of mankind.

"We may start with the person sitting next to us, giving what we can to contribute to his/her well being," she said. "Our compassionate actions for one person can be extended to bigger groups of people across cultural and national contexts. Together we can build a better world for ourselves and others."

Sarah has received leadership training from ACE Spectrum Aspiring Leaders Program, American Council on Education and Leadership Development Program for Higher Education, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), as well as additional leadership training.
Her activities include membership in the Presidential Committee on Disabilities and Access 2014-Present, Presidential Committee on Human Relations and Equity, and Presidential Task Force on Internationalization, 2012-2014. She has also served as the President of the Chinese American Faculty Association, board member of Asian Faculty & Staff Association, and senator of Academic Senate.

Her community service includes being a reviewer for the British Journal of Guidance and Counseling and for the International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling. She is a member of the Health Advisory Board of FCEOC Head Start Preschool/Early Head.

Sarah loves traveling, watching movies, attending concerts and musicals. She also loves taking iPhone pictures to capture precious moments.

She and husband, Albert, just celebrated their silver anniversary.

"We met at Fresno State when he was helping international students, including me!" she said.

Her only son, Eric, is a graduate from UCLA and Buchanan High School.

Her indoor cat, Sage, is a Maine Coon.