BOARD + OFFICERS

– Member Since 2020 – Donald and his wife, Vivien, reside in Darien, CT, where they are highly involved parents in both the local community and at CLSC. Their son, Spence, has been a student at CLSC since 2021.

– Member Since 2015 – Jocelyn’s most recent position was VP of Marketing of High Ridge Brands as a member of the senior management team. She has over 20 years of classic training with increasing responsibility on building brands, business and teams after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Advertising & Communications. Her responsibilities range from setting corporate strategies, leading innovation pipeline, developing and executing marketing plans and managing financials in highly competitive consumer, retailer and regulatory environment for major corporations like Revlon, Sara Lee and advertising agencies to equity group start ups with Prestige Brands and most recently Brynwood Partners. Jocelyn is a Mandarin speaking second generation Chinese American who hopes to pass on an appreciation of Chinese heritage to her family. She and her husband Stephen reside in Greenwich, CT and both are highly involved parents in the community and at CLSC. Their son Silas began 4 years ago and is currently in Chopstix 3 and their daughter Avery is in Explorers 4.

– Member Since 2015 – Patrick is an independent fine art consultant, private dealer and USPAP Compliant appraiser with a specialty in Chinese art and objects. He lectures on the contemporary art market and is on faculty at New York University’s SPS Art Business program. Patrick’s daughter has been enjoying the CLSC program for three years. Besides the important foundations of language that the classes have been providing her – the supportive teachers, engaging culture classes, and friendships with fellow students has given her excitement and confidence and to celebrate proudly the Chinese side of her ancestry. Patrick and his wife Tammy have been grateful for the involved and friendly network of parents and information that is shared as a part of the CLSC community. Now their son can’t wait to start the Chopstix program in the fall!

Sue is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she received her B.S., followed by her M.D. degree at Michigan State University. She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Nephrology at Yale University where she served as a research fellow in the genetics of hypertension. She is in private practice with Metabolism Associates of New Haven, CT. She is also a clinical consultant for Abbott. As for her personal background, she is second generation Chinese, and her interest in the Chinese language stems from her childhood experience. Her two children, Nathan and Erica, were enrolled at the CLSC. She hopes to champion the ongoing drive to enrich the experience of our students within the CLSC community.

Dora is a financial services professional at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Dora had more than 20 years of Trading, Risk Management and Business Development experience in the areas of Commodities Trading. Her prior roles included Managing Director, Head of Commodities Trading North America at BNP Paribas. Dora received her BA in Economics from Jinan University in China, and a MBA from the University of Bridgeport. She also completed an Advanced Professional Certificate in Corporate Finance from New York University. Dora is actively involved in community service, women’s leadership initiatives, and young professionals mentoring.

With over 20 years of creative experience in film, television, and advertising, XiaoHwa Sydney has spent her entire career sharing stories and connecting cultures. Currently, XiaoHwa is SVP of Content & Creative at ADMERASIA, a full-service agency in New York City. She has led a variety of projects that combine her background in multicultural marketing and creative production. Her clients include Nissan, UnitedHealthcare, Moët Hennessy, and Emmy award-winning series FX Shōgun. Since its inception, she also leads an ongoing partnership with Make Us Visible, whose mission is to empower local communities to integrate Asian American contributions, experiences, and histories in K–12 classrooms. “XiaoHwa” to her Chinese-first friends, “Sydney” to English-first friends, she is passionate about navigating cultural conversations and bringing people together. She is an avid learner of Mandarin and attends Adult Classes at CLSC, though she only feels comfortable ordering from restaurants. She lives in Cos Cob, CT, with her husband, two sons, and an elderly fur baby named Boomer.

Diana specializes in Business Intelligence, with over a decade of experience in financial services. She began her career at UBS Investment Bank before transitioning into data analytics, where she now focuses on building dashboards and delivering insights that support strategic decision-making. She holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College.

Diana lives in Fairfield, CT, with her husband, daughter, and their spooky kitty.

Alina brings over 15 years of experience in corporate strategy, finance and mergers and acquisitons working for Fortune 500 and consulting firms domestically and internationally. She has led and supported multiple initiatives to drive growth, efficiency and innovation in the oil and gas, mining and power industries. Prior to her corporate career, Alina spent five years in Washington, DC, working with think tanks and Congress to promote gender parity in health, education and business. She holds a MS from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and a BA in International Relations from Lewis and Clark College. She is fluent in Hungarian and Romanian, and has a strong interest in global affairs and sustainability. Alina lives in Greenwich CT with her husband and three children, all of whom are students at the Chinese Language School of Connecticut. She supports and is actively involved in many local organizations, including the Junior League of Greenwich and the Greenwich PTA Council.

Ms. Yajuan Zhang graduated at Shanghai Normal University in China for her Bachelor’s degree, majoring in English. She served as an associate professor at Ningxia Medical University, teaching university students English In addition, Ms. Zhang also served as the Deputy Director of the Foreign Language Department for the University. Ms. Zhang received her first Master’s degree from Ningxia University, China, majoring in Curricula and Teaching Theories. Her second Master’s degree majoring in TESOL was granted from SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont.

Ms. Zhang started her Chinese teaching career with CLSC in 2010. In addition, she has been teaching Chinese language and culture at public and private schools in the Connecticut. As a language-teaching activist, Ms. Zhang is passionate for exploring and implementing opportunities to bridge the connection between American students and Chinese language and culture.

My name is Hsuan-Hui Wang, and I also go by Amber. I am proud to be the Assistant to the Principal and a teacher at CLSC! Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, I received a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Brandeis University. I am certified to teach Mandarin, science, and math to 5th–12th graders in Connecticut, and it has been a truly joyful experience teaching here!

I have a true passion for working with young learners, helping each child progress in all areas of their development, social, language, and motor. I strive to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment.

In my free time, I love watching comedies, participating in politics, creating social media content, and spending time with friends and family. I look forward to working together with you as partners in your child’s growth and development!

– Member Since 2018 – Jennifer is a Production Engineer at Blue Sky Studios, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Studios. At Blue Sky, her contributions focus on bridging between the needs of artists, production management, and technology. Likewise, she is an advocate for the value of bridging cultures. She holds a B.S. in Architectural Design from Thomas Jefferson University, an M.F.A. in Digital Production from Clemson University, a D.P.S. in Applied Computing from Pace University, and a Professional Certificate from the University of California at Irvine in Applied Project Management. To expand her knowledge in the domain of education, she is currently working toward an M.S. in Learning Design and Technology with the University of Maryland. Jennifer lives in Westchester County with her husband and son, who has been a CLSC student since he was 18 months old.