Meet the 2026 Planning Committee
This volunteer team of community leaders are working to bring the spirit of Taiwan to life in San Diego!
Director of Sponsorship
Jay Liao
Jay leads sponsorship strategy for the festival, building partnerships that align with the event’s cultural mission and the organizations it brings together. His approach emphasizes selectivity and fit, prioritizing partnerships that contribute meaningfully to the experience rather than transactional visibility. Professionally, he works in wealth management, advising clients on portfolio management and investment strategy. He applies the same disciplined lens to sponsorships—evaluating partnerships based on fit, durability, and the ability to create value over time. He is also the creator of The Island's Story, a docuseries exploring Taiwan’s history and identity.
Director of Vendors
Ashley Morris
A San Diego real estate professional committed to serving the community through trust, communication, and a client focused approach. With a background in residential sales and property management, clients are guided with clarity and confidence. Ashley moved from Taiwan in 2014 and is now married with two young children, who keep her busy and bring balance and joy to everyday life.
Director of Volunteering
Cyrus Liu
Cyrus (Wesley) Liu is a current 3rd year undergraduate at UC San Diego, double majoring in Political Science/International Relations and Chinese Studies. As a dedicated member of the UC San Diego and Taiwanese-American community, Wesley is involved in different organizations and departments, such as Model United Nations at UC San Diego and the UCSD Center for Taiwan Studies. Whether it's hosting international conferences, teaching others about Taiwanese culture, or bridging different communities together, Wesley’s perspective of both Taiwanese and American culture creates fresh perspectives that unite people together.
Director of Logistics
Louis Lau
Louis Lau is an experienced accounting and business professional with over a decade of experience in financial reporting and operational management. He currently operates a shipping and logistics business that supports import operations from Asia. In addition to his professional work, he has been actively involved in the UCSD alumni and Taiwanese communities, as well as various professional organizations, contributing through leadership roles, participation in cultural and business consulting, and efforts to strengthen connections within Mandarin-speaking diasporas in the San Diego area.
Director of Programming
Candice Hsu
A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill in Nursing and Duke University in Clinical Informatics, Candice leads the quality management program for Cellular Therapy/Blood & Marrow Transplant at Scripps Health. Her professional expertise is a unique "melting pot" that parallels her multicultural upbringing across Taiwan, China, and the USA. This diverse background fuels her appreciation in celebrating her heritage and identity. When she isn't managing quality standards, Candice is likely at a Pilates session, scouting San Diego’s newest cafes, or mapping out her next vacation.
Director of Marketing
Karen George-Moshiri
Karen is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy and is currently working with older adults in senior living communities. Originally from the Bay Area, she moved to San Diego to attend the University of St Augustine for Health Sciences where she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Outside of work, Karen enjoys gardening, reading, and exercising. She is excited to be more involved in the Taiwanese community in San Diego as a Committee Member for the Taiwan Festival.
Vendors Committee Member
Vanessa Chou
Originally from Orange County, Vanessa moved to attend graduate school at the UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2020. Now as a licensed pharmacist, Vanessa enjoys working with and giving back to the local San Diego community. As a second generation Taiwanese-American, Vanessa has participated in various events with TAP-SD and has volunteered during the last two festivals. She is excited to be joining the planning committee for the first time this year and doing her part in promoting Taiwanese heritage and culture. In her free time, you can find Vanessa taking care of her many orchids, hiking around Mission Trails, as well as playing badminton at Smash! in Mira Mesa.
Volunteering Committee Member
Valerie Peng
Valerie is a mechanical engineer who has worked with several startups building robots and designing machines. Originally from Michigan, she attended MIT for her bachelors and masters, majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in entrepreneurship. Valerie's hobbies include fostering dogs, playing violin in a community orchestra, running triathlons, and hiking.
Sponsorship Committee Member
Emily Chen
Emily I. Chen, Ph.D. is a scientist, strategist, and biotech advisor with over 15 years of experience turning complex science into real-world impact. With a background in proteomics and precision medicine, she’s led teams and launched technologies across academia, startups, and global life science companies, driven by a passion for bridging research and business to help teams grow, products launch, and innovations reach patients. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from UCSD, completed her postdoc at The Scripps Research Institute, and is currently pursuing her MBA at the Gies College of Business.
Webmaster / Marketing Committee Member
Vincent Chow
A first-generation Taiwanese American, Vince has lived across the U.S., but nothing beats his childhood memories of early morning Taiwanese breakfast on the streets of Taipei. By day, he helps people and small businesses reach their goals with software and AI. By night, you'll find him chasing tennis balls around Balboa Park or mapping out his next adventure. He's thrilled to bring his tech skills to the 2026 SD Taiwan Festival.
Logistics Committee Member
Eugene Zen
Eugene is currently serving as Secretary for TAP-SD and has volunteered for the Taiwan Festival since it first started. Eugene is a graduate of the University of Michigan and UCSD, working as a Data Scientist. His hobbies include dancing (salsa, bachata, and Kpop), cooking, watching films, playing video games, building models, and playing trivia. Fun fact, Eugene has never been on a trivia team that scored outside of the top 3!
Raffle Assets / Marketing Committee Member
Joyce Yang
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago and raised in Irvine, California, Joyce is a creative specializing in blending instructional design and user experience design. She has a Masters in Education from UCSD, a Masters in Instructional Design from CU Bloomsburg and a Bachelor's from CUSF. Her work sits at the intersection of education, design, and storytelling where she aims to create engaging, accessible experiences that empower others. As a second-generation Taiwanese American, Joyce is committed to giving back to her community. Beyond her professional work, Joyce is driven by curiosity and creativity. She enjoys ceramics, painting, rock climbing, baking sourdough, caring for plants, and exploring new artistic outlets.
Programming Committee Member
Lillian Y. Lin (she/they)
Lillian is a Taiwanese-American creative now living in San Diego. She is writer and an experience designer, cultivated from storytelling for architecture, film, software design, and event design. They lead PlaySpace, an AAPI affinity space, and is an organizing member and workshop leader for the AAPI Actors Studio in San Diego. Lillian loves cats, vibrant hair color, BTS, and a good bass drop. She is currently working on her debut speculative fiction novel about a middle-aged Asian American woman discovering how to truly use her voice with the help of her magical cat as her spirit guide. Follow on her journey on IG @zenbitch_actual
Committee Co-Chairs
SDTW Festival Committee Chair
Kathleen Keh
Kathleen completed her BS Chemical Biology at UC Berkeley, and her MPH Biostatistics at Emory University. Her hobbies include playing tennis and spending time in the great outdoors. She is a member of the House Rabbit Society and had a pet bunny named Stellar for 11 years. She is very excited to continue growing and fostering community and raising awareness of Taiwanese and Taiwanese American culture.
SDTW Festival Committee Chair
Tom Hung
Tom Hung is a Project Manager at BW Design Group servicing the Life Sciences industry. Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Tom immigrated to the US at the age of 10 and grew up in Kansas, and moved to San Diego in 2021. He studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas. Outside of work and volunteering, Tom's hobbies are photography, cooking, eating great food, playing music, exercising, and going to the dog beach with his dog Murphy!
Join our Planning Committee
We’re excited to kick off preparations for the 2025 San Diego Taiwan Festival and are currently recruiting key leadership roles for our Planning Committee across (7) core teams. This is your chance to play a pivotal part in building on the success of last year’s inaugural festival, which welcomed over 800+ attendees and 1,200+ registered guests.
Right now, we’re seeking Director roles to lead each team, along with Supporting roles for those ready to contribute to specific areas of expertise. General volunteer sign-ups will open in March for day-of event roles—stay tuned for more details!
Available Committee Roles across (7) core teams:
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Volunteer & Training Team
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Director: Lead volunteer recruitment, training, and coordination to create a seamless event experience.
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Supporting: Assist with volunteer onboarding, shift scheduling, and communications.
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Sponsorship & Partnership Team
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Director: Develop relationships with sponsors and partners to support the festival’s growth.
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Supporting: Help draft sponsorship proposals and coordinate sponsor benefits during the event.
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Marketing & Community Outreach Team
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Director: Shape the festival’s messaging and manage campaigns to maximize community engagement.
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Supporting: Support social media management, email marketing, and local outreach initiatives.
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Programming & Vendor Team
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Director: Curate performances, activities, and vendor experiences that celebrate Taiwanese culture.
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Supporting: Coordinate with performers and vendors to finalize contracts and schedules.
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Logistics & AV Team
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Director: Oversee venue setup, equipment rentals, and audiovisual needs.
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Supporting: Assist with layout planning, equipment coordination, and setup/teardown logistics.
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Operations & Safety Team
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Director: Manage day-of operations, ensure attendee safety, and coordinate on-site support.
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Supporting: Help implement safety plans and assist with on-site troubleshooting.
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Finance Team
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Director: Monitor the festival’s budget, track expenses, and ensure financial transparency.
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Supporting: Assist with expense tracking, reporting, and managing reimbursements.
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Ready to make a difference?
Help us bring the 2025 San Diego Taiwan Festival to life! Whether you’re looking to lead a team or support specific planning efforts, we have a role for you. Join our Planning Committee today and be part of showcasing the strength and vibrancy of Taiwanese American culture and identity to our community!
