Lou is the eldest daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos. Her family has been her biggest support and her motivation. Through education, work experiences, and training, Lou has become resilient, developed strong leadership skills, and built rapport with campus community. It has been and continues to be her mission to provide support for UCD students, help them succeed, and provide a brave and compassionate space for all. 

Lou is a UC Irvine Alumna with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Behavioral Psychology and Education Sciences and a Master of Science in Counseling from CSU Sacramento. She began her career in higher education in 2016 and has served UC Davis in various roles advocating for social justice and supporting students' academic and career development.  Throughout Lou's time as an academic counselor and advisor, she has supported students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean’s Office (CAES) and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department. Prior to serving as the Academic Success Advisor for SAandPIRI, Lou was a program coordinator for the Cross Cultural Center creating community spaces that foster identity development, critical consciousness, and collective innovation. 

 When working with students, Lou uses a holistic and multicultural approach that integrates Solution-Focused Practice and the Life-Span Development Model. In partnership with her students, she supports the development of skills and preparedness that sets students up for success while providing opportunities for students to define what success means to them. 

Region in the diasporas I identify with: Hmong, Southeast Asian