True Xiong

Mraz photo

Student services advisor

360 Education Sciences Building
For appointments, call 612-625-3339 or schedule online.
Direct: 612-625-3063
xion1362@umn.edu

About me

Hello! My name is True Xiong. I grew up in Minneapolis and attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. After completing my undergraduate degree in Management, I worked in corporate and realized I wasn’t making the kind of impact that I wanted. I soon discovered my passion in helping students navigate college because of my own experience as a first-generation student and decided to complete a masters degree in the Leadership and Student Affairs Program at the University of St. Thomas.

I was an advisor at St. Catherine University before deciding to return to Laos to connect with my birth place and the local Hmong community. While in Laos, I taught English to local youth at an English school for an academic year and then returned to Minnesota and worked as an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts for almost 6 years before transitioning to CEHD Student Services.

My goal is to guide and support each student in their own unique college experience. I prioritize helping students find community, build relationships, and connect to campus resources, so they can discover and thrive while completing their college degree and prepare for their career and life after graduation.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with my nieces and nephews. I also stay active by hiking, playing softball, and an occasional 5K.

We are committed to providing a comfortable, inclusive, and respectful environment for all members of our communities. If there is information you feel would be helpful for us to know, including disability or other accommodation needs, I invite you to share it with me directly or let the front desk know when you schedule an appointment.

Drop-in advising

Drop-in advising is available over Zoom. Check with your advisor for their weekly availability.

Drop-in advising is usually limited to a 10 to 15 minute session. Students needing more time should schedule a 30 minute appointment by calling Student Services at 612-625-3339.

Example of issues for drop-in advising

  • Review of classes and class schedule
  • APAS review and updates
  • Petition discussions
  • Signatures for academic forms
  • Short Q&A
  • General discussion
  • Non-academic topics (such as time management, connecting on campus, etc.)