People

Born and raised in North Side Minneapolis, Mae Chung Yang brings a decade of experience in higher education and college access to her role as TRIO Upward Bound Residential Coordinator & Advisor. As a proud first-generation college graduate, Mae is deeply committed to supporting students from historically underrepresented backgrounds as they navigate their academic and personal journeys. She brings an intersectional and equity-driven approach to her work, grounded in relationship-building, restorative practices, and student empowerment.

Mae earned her B.A. in Environmental Biology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she was actively involved in campus life as a Resident Assistant, student government leader, and Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer. While her academic background is in science, it was through these campus leadership roles that Mae discovered her passion for student advocacy—and ultimately chose to make it her career. She is currently pursuing an M.S.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

Before joining TRIO Upward Bound, Mae has served students across both the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Public School districts, providing direct support and college access services to first-generation, low-income, and multilingual learners. As a High School Coach with College Possible at Central High School in Saint Paul and a College and Career Readiness Coordinator at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, Mae has led college and career workshops, mentored hundreds of students through the application and financial aid process, and partnered closely with educators and families to remove systemic barriers to postsecondary success.

Mae also worked in residential life at the College of Saint Benedict and University of Wisconsin River Falls, where she supervised student staff and championed inclusive and student-centered residential experiences. She has led large-scale college readiness events, developed culturally responsive programming, and continuously advocates for equitable access in education.

Outside of work, Mae enjoys spending quality time with her family, hanging out with her dog Gracie, exploring the outdoors, trying new recipes, tinkering with tech, and relaxing with video games.