HAIS Governance Board
Meetings
The HAIS Governance Board meets the second Monday of each month during the school year from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. in the conference room at Johnston Elementary.
Members
Governance Board Members
Pa Lee Moua, Ph.D., currently serves as the Executive Director of the Schreiber Institute for Women’s Leadership. She has worked at multiple higher education institutions including Fox Valley Technical College, UW Fox Valley (currently UW-Oshkosh), Lawrence University, and now the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Dr. Moua earned her doctorate from Marian University in 2020. She has served on multiple boards and advisory committees including the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Mielke Grants Committee, the MLK Jr. Celebration Committee, and NEW Hmong Professionals. Outside of Pa Lee’s professional roles, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, and creating floral bouquets.
William Curtis is a retired English Learners (EL) and Bilingual Education administrator for the Appleton Area School District (AASD). In January 1985, he was hired as the first full-time ESL elementary school teacher in the AASD. Curtis taught English Learners in all grade levels at Jefferson Elementary for fifteen years. Prior to teaching in Appleton, Curtis taught English in Mexico at the American School of Pachuca and the American School of Guadalajara.
In 2000, Curtis was hired as the first administrative-level English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Coordinator. He served the AASD in that capacity from 2000 to 2015. In that time, he helped develop and guide the instructional programming, services, and assessments for students in over 40 language groups.
In addition to his role as district administrator for the EL program, Curtis also took the lead in the development of a Spanish/English Dual Language charter school in the AASD. The Appleton Bilingual School has been a charter school option in the AASD since 2012 and offers both native English-speaking students and Spanish/English bilingual students an opportunity to study and learn in two languages.
Through his long association within the community, Curtis has gained a great appreciation and respect for Hmong American students, families and community members. In particular, he welcomes this opportunity to help develop HAIS and support its growth and mission.
Sam Lee was born in Memphis, TN, and moved to Sheboygan, WI, in 1986 with his family to be closer to relatives. He attended the Sheboygan School District until his sophomore year, after which he graduated from Howards Grove High School in 2002.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He began his teaching experience as a science teacher in an alternative program within the Green Bay School District. Sam later taught middle school and high school science courses in various charter schools. Additionally, he has served as an instructional coach and administrator. Currently, Sam is an Academic Success Coach at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. In this role, he provides support to students in areas such as time management, organization, study skills, test-taking strategies, and the transition from high school to college. He resides in Appleton with his wife and four children, all of whom attend schools in the Appleton Area School District. Sam is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Science.
With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Rayon Brown is committed to creating inclusive pathways and opportunities—especially for youth and underserved populations. He currently serves as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Regional Operations/Chief Diversity Officer at Fox Valley Technical College, overseeing Diversity & Inclusion Services, Regional Centers, the Oshkosh Riverside Campus, International Student Services, and Tribal Outreach,
Since joining FVTC in 2004, Brown has held several key roles, including Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Manager of Multicultural Student Services, and Director of the Brother-to-Brother program—an initiative focused on increasing retention among students of color.
Brown’s dedication to community engagement is reflected in his service as Vice President of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Board of Directors, a member of the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity Board, Co-Chair of Imagine Fox Cities, and board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley. Through these roles, he champions initiatives that expand access, equity, and support systems for youth and families.
He holds an AAS in Marketing from FVTC, a BA in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University, and an MS in Organizational Leadership & Administration from Concordia University. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Leadership, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement.
Thong In Xiong currently attends Lakeland University in pursuit of a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Organizational Development. He graduated from Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Early Childhood Education and from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Organizational Leadership, with an emphasis on Public and Non-Profit Management. As a Scholar for Success Manager at FVTC, he assists underrepresented students in overcoming barriers to graduation. He is a US Marine Corps veteran, where he served as a Team Leader and held the roles of Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor and Suicide Prevention Advocate. Thong is married to Nou Xiong; together, they have a daughter named Peyton, a son named Lionel, and a dog named Chowchi. Thong co-founded and serves as President of the Hmong Youth Program for Excellence, which helps Hmong youth self-identify as Hmong American. This program helps mentor and provide cultural discussions and experiences for Hmong Youth to become more productive members of their respective communities, thereby bridging the gap between their elders. He is a Real Estate agent with the Creative Results Apex team and a motivational speaker, helping students find courage to overcome adversity and achieve success. He collaborates with the Hmong American Partnership of the Fox Cities, the United Hmong American Association, NEW Hmong Professionals, and the Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Associations to raise mental health awareness within the Hmong community and support youth.
Dr. Pam Her has an extensive background in corporate, government, and non-profit leadership. She is currently the CEO of 4Chi Business Solutions, a consulting firm that provides support and guidance to corporations, non-profit organizations, and government entities in the areas of cultural competency journeys, recruitment & retention, strategic planning, and organizational Leadership. Dr. Her has a PhD in Business/Organizational Management and completed her dissertation on Asian American Women Managers and Microaggressions in the Workplace. She also currently serves on the board of directors for Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Multicultural Coalition Inc. Appleton YMCA, Girls Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.
Los Chong Vang has 25 years of experience serving the Hmong Community in several cultural roles, prominently as a “Txiv Qeej” (pronounced Txee-Kheng), a crucial role in traditional funeral services.
Membership
If you are interested in joining the HAIS Governance Board, please contact Dr. Thai Xiong, HAIS Impact Director/Co-Founder via email.