Chen Kong-Wick
Cohort 4 Alum - 2024-2025

Chen Kong-Wick is a Cambodian refugee who immigrated to the United States at the age of seven. After becoming a U.S. citizen and completing her education in the U.S., Chen built a career spanning more than 20 years in a large urban school district. Her lived experience as a refugee has given her deep insight into the challenges faced by immigrant and refugee families and fuels her lifelong commitment to equity and systemic change.

As a Program Manager in the Oakland Unified School District’s Office of Expanded Learning, within the Community Schools and Student Services Department, Chen oversees the implementation and integration of school-day initiatives into out-of-school programs. Her work centers on equitable access to sports, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social Emotional Learning, Restorative Justice, and Trauma-Informed practices, with particular attention to the needs of English Language Learners.

Beyond her professional work, Chen is deeply involved in community projects that empower and elevate emerging leaders of all ages. Her approach reflects her belief that collective leadership and compassion are essential for building thriving communities.

Chen resides in Oakland, California, with her husband and daughter, where she continues to embody her values of resilience, equity, and service in both her professional and personal life.