Willie is a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese American born from Chinese Vietnamese refugee parents displaced by the Vietnam War. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Willie quickly turned his natural curiosity of how things worked into a love for science. He earned a B.A. in Chemistry at Loyola University of Chicago and then went on to earn his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Miami University of Ohio. Coming out of graduate school in 2013, he found employment as a Chemist at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (now British American Tobacco Reynolds) in Winston-Salem, NC and has since grown into the U.S. Director of Analytical Development within Global Life Sciences.
Willie also has a drive for Diversity Equity and Inclusion work and has been the leader of the Asian American Employee Resource group at BAT Reynolds since its inception in 2020, bringing to the company increased cultural awareness and competency for employees of Asiatic descent. His role within the ERG sparked a drive to engage with the external community and service work, and while trying to find a local group to donate his time and services to, he stumbled upon Children of Vietnam and felt a connection through his parents’ ties to Vietnam.
He looks forward to serving and supporting CoV in any way possible to enrich the lives of those living in Vietnam.