Founder and Board President

Dr. Michael Chang is the Founder and Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI) and former Mayor of Cupertino. He had served in public office for almost 20 years and is a well-recognized civic leader in Silicon Valley. In 1997, Dr. Chang became the first Asian American to serve as Mayor of Cupertino. In the same year, he founded APALI and led it for over two decades to build a strong pipeline and community of Asian American civic leaders. Dr. Chang is also De Anza College emeritus professor of civic leadership and retired chairman of the Asian American Studies Department. Dr. Chang earned both undergraduate degrees in philosophy & religion and business administration from San Francisco State University. He also earned a Ph.D. in education, as well as both master’s degrees in East Asian Studies and political science, from Stanford University.

Board Secretary and Co-Executive Director

Hon. Dennis W. Chiu is Co-Executive Director, an attorney, former elected official, and 2012 APALI Civic Leadership Alumni. For over five years, Dennis served on the El Camino Healthcare District and board of directors of El Camino Health, a two-campus 300+ bed hospital. He was chair of the finance committee for over four years. His career includes serving as in-house and outside general counsel for dozens of not-for-profit and for-profit corporations over 20 years where he was the top legal advisor. He also served five years as chief operating officer for two companies where he led day-to-day operations. Dennis went into government service for four years as a principal consultant and senior staff member to two California Assembly members. Dennis taught and currently teaches APALI’s campaign workshop since 2012. He served 13-years on the Santa Clara County Planning Commission and 4-years on the Sunnyvale Housing and Human Services Commission. Dennis received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and juris doctor from Santa Clara University.

Board Treasurer

Johnson Fong is a Certified Public Accountant, owner and managing partner of Fong, Ko & Associates since 2006. He has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), the largest healthcare nonprofit serving the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander community in Santa Clara County. Johnson received his degrees from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mayra Cruz has served in many leadership roles in Silicon Valley and the state. Her leadership roles include serving as a trustee for San Jose Evergreen Community College District 2009-2020; former non-profit organization executive director and board member of faculty and leader at De Anza College; co-founder of the Vasconcellos Institute for Democracy in Action; a member of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges from 2018 to 2021 in various leadership capacities. Mayra works currently as an educational consultant facilitating training and professional development locally and at the State and national level, in career and technical education, equity, diversity and antiracism, culturally responsive teaching, and leadership development. She collaborates with aspiring leaders on the advancement of equity principles and practices locally and statewide. Mayra served as faculty of the De Anza College Child Development and Education Department for 21 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s degree in Education from San José State University.

Board Member

Hon. Paul Fong is a former California State Assemblymember from the 28th district, completing three full terms of service as a legislator. During his tenure, Assemblymember Fong introduced and passed landmark civil rights and environmental legislation. He was honored by many groups for his commitment to community including receiving the 2009 Mover of Mountains Award, the 2007 Norm Mineta Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2007 Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Civic Leadership Award, and the 2007 Mayor’s Award of Excellence. In the assembly, Fong was known as an activist for education, civil rights, affordable housing, and the environment. Paul Fong is an emeritus professor of political science at Evergreen Community College.

Board Member

Hon. Wendy Ho has been a trustee of the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District since 2012 and is a 2010 APALI Civic Leadership alumni. Wendy has a MPA is a community advocate and civic leader with over 15 years of experience working on public policy at the local, state, and federal Currently, Wendy serves as Chief of Staff to Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee. Prior to her current role, the majority of Wendy’s career was in the nonprofit sector, serving most recently as the Chief Strategy and Policy Officer for the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits. Her experience also includes policy roles with United Way Silicon Valley, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, and U.S. Congress.