Undergrad: Colorado State University

Major: Communication Studies

Hometown: Mojave Desert, CA

Assistantship: Residential Life – Assistant Residence Hall Director; Asian American Cultural Center (AsAAC)

Bio: My name is Kayla Wong (she, her, hers). I grew up in the Mojave Desert of Southern California and graduated with honors from Colorado State University in December 2016 with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Arts Leadership and Administration. I love to research topics of social justice and anything related to mental health - my thesis topic was mental health and college students focusing on intersectionality.

My biggest commitments in undergrad were being a Resident Assistant and working for the Health Network with mental health initiatives on campus. Part of this was starting a chapter of Active Minds - a national nonprofit. Through being a R.A., the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program, and many amazing mentors, I discovered my passion for Student Affairs work. Since graduating, I have been working as a Program Aide doing assessment and development and as Payroll Assistant for CSU's Department of Housing and Dining. I'm excited to be back in the halls with students in my assistantship under Residential Life. I think learning occurring in college outside of the classroom is crucial to personal and professional growth and I am ecstatic to be part of that for so many people!

Outside of school and work, I love hiking, running, surfing, camping, and anything outdoors. For fun, I like painting mason jars while listening to music or going to the theatre. My favorite animal is the pink iguana– it lives in the Galapagos. I am obsessed with Disney, the color pink, and reading! I am looking forward to continuing my journey in this field and am excited to see what UConn has in store for me! Go Huskies!