Mai Foua Her, B.A.

Pronouns: They/Them/She/Her/Nws

Email: maifoua@ucsc.edu  

Mai Foua Her is a UC Santa Cruz alum with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a minor in Education. They continued their education by pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, with an emphasis in Interdisciplinary Studies Education. Mai Foua’s research regards Hmong American education through a Critical Refugee Studies lens, and they have presented on the topic, “Beyond Ethnic Boundaries: Decolonizing Asian American Women’s Voices”. In addition to her academic research, Mai Foua advocated for womxn in community spaces. At Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco, Mai Foua served in multiple roles from Academic Support Program Manager to Academic Support Associate Director, where she co-facilitated the Womxn of Color Affinity Group and supported a reproductive health program. Mai Foua also served on the Hmong Women’s Summit Planning Committee, to organize a multi-generational gathering that seeks to educate, explore, and empower women around the issues of leadership within the diverse Hmong community. Workshops provided space for shared learning, meaningful dialogue, and opportunities to lead from the authentic Hmong self, resulting in a supportive sisterhood. In their free time, Mai Foua writes and performs poetry as a source of empowerment, self-care, and creative expression to explore internally how the world has shaped their experience as a scholar, advocate, and educator.

Favorite feminist: bell hooks

Lo Klauer, B.A.

Pronouns: They/Them

Email: lklauer@ucsc.edu

I grew up not too far from here in Hollister, CA and hopped around to a few colleges before transferring to UCSC. I am a 2022 UCSC alum with a Bachelor’s degree in Feminist Studies and a minor in Black Studies. During my time as an undergrad, I focused on the facets of identity-building of QTPOC in digital and popular media. Most of my research explores the connections between gender, sexuality, and race in non-binary lesbians. I recently interned for The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County through The Humanities Institute on campus, working on racial equity issues in philanthropic institutions and practicing participatory grantmaking. Post-grad, I aim to continue to foster safe spaces for people of all identities and help facilitate important, difficult conversations between community members. I love to collage, journal, spend time with my cat Olive, and cultivate queer community in my free time. I am very excited to be working with the Womxn’s Center and I hope to bring love, joy, and humanity to my work!

Favorite feminist: Audre Lorde