Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at State: Part 2

Each May, the State Department joins the rest of the nation in celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.  During this month, we celebrate the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) and the diverse perspectives they bring to the Department’s work and mission.  This is the final DipNote blog in a two part series, where we asked AANHPI staff members about their heritage, how they bring their experiences to work as a diplomat, and why diversity and inclusion is important to the U.S. government and in general.

Jeremiah Azurin – Foreign Service Information Management Specialist in Abu Dhabi, UAE

How have you drawn on your heritage in your work as a diplomat?

Celebrating our heritage is just one of the many ways diplomats celebrate the diversity of the United States of America. My identity as a Filipino-American provides the language, exposure, and experiences to articulate and advocate for diversity and inclusion in spaces that might not have as much visibility on AAPI groups and the rich histories and cultures within them. But just like the diversity of the United States, we descend from a variety of cultures all over the continent, and this calls for a deeper understanding of the broad umbrella term “Asian”. There’s consequently enormous value in acknowledging the many ways, perspectives, and lenses we have, and I share this in all that I do as a diplomat abroad.

Tell us about yourself and your heritage.

I’m an Abu Dhabi-based Information Management Specialist of Filipino descent (specifically Illocano and Kapampangan) and joined the Foreign Service after completing the new Foreign Affairs IT Fellowship during undergrad. Like the Pickering, Rangel, and Payne graduate fellowships, “FAIT” fellows fulfill certain internship and educational requirements but enter the Bureau of Information Resource Management as Information Management Specialists, not Generalists.  Prior to this, I spent my pre-university gap years working overseas where I was the only American in my jobs, much less the only American of color. Many people thought I was a Filipino (which is true!) from the Philippines (which is not true), and refused to accept the fact that I’m also an American from the United States. I think that this is a common occurrence and experience for many American expatriates of color, and it certainly didn’t change when I entered the Foreign Service. But it’s because of my heritage that I joined the Foreign Service; you can “clock out” of your day job as a diplomat but you can’t as a person of color. So although I don’t have a front-facing job like my Generalist colleagues, I will always carry my identity as a Filipino in all of the spaces I occupy and enjoy sharing the part of my country that makes it unique and diverse.

Why is a culture of diversity and inclusion important to the U.S. government and the workforce in general?

Diversity is an asset through the voices, talent, and experiences we bring to the Department and the ways we show up to the world, but also as a key in motivating and advocating for impact and meaningful change rooted in inclusion. Diversity is also broadly the way we learn and unlearn through conversations and policies centered around equity and bringing more people and identities into the values we hold and challenges we/our families overcome. It is key to achieving our mission. But equally important, diversity is a celebration! With the many perspectives and lenses we each see through, all of us therefore have the tools to take up space and position our Department to be as reflective of the USA as it can be.

Miki Templeton, Civil Service, Program Analyst, Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs 

Tell us about yourself and your heritage.

I joined the Department in 2020 as a Civil Service Officer in the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia. Prior to the Department, I worked at the National Science Foundation for almost four years and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova.

As a biracial child of a Japanese mother and a Caucasian father, I was cognizant of my blended heritage from a young age. Growing up, I have fond memories of visiting family in Japan every couple of summers, eating Japanese snacks and foods, and watching Japanese TV shows, as well as seeing my paternal grandfather’s home canton in Switzerland and celebrating Swiss National Day at the Embassy in DC.

How have you drawn on your heritage in your work as a diplomat?

The biggest elements of my heritage that I draw on in my work are the core values my parents instilled in me: a strong work ethic and the desire to help others. My mother moved from Japan to the U.S. as an adult who did not speak English and worked diligently to obtain three degrees and work as a pediatric nurse practitioner. My father is a lifelong linguaphile and worked as a foreign affairs professional for his entire career. My heritage allows me to experience the world from a unique point of view, recognizing that my existence is the result of two people from different cultures coming together. The combination of this global perspective, witnessing my father’s work in foreign affairs, and witnessing my mother’s work as a nurse practitioner in her non-native language instilled a desire in me to volunteer in several countries abroad, serve in the Peace Corps, and ultimately led me to work at the Department. I draw on my heritage in the effort and dedication I give to my work, as well as my desire to serve my country and its people.

Why is a culture of diversity and inclusion important to the U.S. government and the workforce in general?

When people in an organization or team do not feel safe, heard, or seen, they cannot bring their full or best selves to their work. As a result, morale decreases, the likelihood that they stay in their role or organization decreases, and the collective workforce suffers. A culture of diversity and inclusion signals that the U.S. government supports and represents people from all different backgrounds, and that its mission and actions reflect that diversity. A culture of diversity and inclusion has policies in place, as well as understanding leaders and managers, that provide accommodations and support to people with greatly varying backgrounds, situations, and circumstances to effectively work – and want to work – in the organization. With a culture of diversity and inclusion, differing interests are protected and represented in our work and messaging, and creativity can thrive.

Sarahann Yeh – Foreign Service Generalist and Vice Consul at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala

How have you drawn on your heritage in your work as a diplomat?

I was born and raised in a multiethnic household that celebrated diversity and encouraged me to be part of a broader, global community.  My dad was born in mainland China and raised in Taiwan, but his first introduction to the United States was at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil, where he received his first U.S. student visa while he was living with his uncle outside Rio de Janeiro.  When I was growing up, I listened raptly to his stories of first coming to the United States in a search for a better life.  Today, as a Consular Officer in Guatemala, I interview visa applicants who are similarly seeking admission to the United States – some coming to pursue an advanced degrees or explore a new part of the world, and others to reunite with family members as lawful permanent residents.  In each adjudication, I see a glimmer of my family’s immigration story.  I recall the vast and diverse peoples who make up the United States of America, and I’m proud that we welcome folks from all walks of life into our country.

Tell us about yourself and your heritage.

My dad and his family immigrated from Taiwan to the United States in search of better opportunities for my uncle and aunt who were born deaf.  They chose to come to Washington, DC because of Gallaudet University – one of the largest deaf-serving universities in the world – which provided my uncle and aunt access to a formal education.  I was born in a suburb of DC, and as a kid, I gleefully celebrated all the U.S. and Chinese holidays, dressing up for Halloween with my mom’s side of the family, and then lining up for rice cakes and hong baos with my dad’s.

As a young adult, I felt pulled to learn more about my dad’s country of birth, and I traveled to Shanghai, China with the support of Gilman Scholarship.  In Shanghai, I was surrounded by the foods and drinks of my childhood, and I reveled in the opportunity to visit places I’d only heard about in my grandparent’s stories.  I spent my weekends teaching English at a community center, telling stories of my childhood and showing pictures of my family.  My students’ eyes grew wide when they learned that my grandparents were born in a town not too far from them.  In all of these interactions, I was grateful for my heritage.  But I was also reminded how strongly I identified as an American.  I missed the sights and sounds of home, and I missed the diversity of the States.  My allegiance and loyalty to the United States only grew.  When I returned from Shanghai, I started exploring ways that I could join federal service, which ultimately led me to the State Department.

Why is a culture of diversity and inclusion important to the U.S. government and the workforce in general?

As a federal employee, I believe that one of our main purposes is to serve the people of the United States.  Our people represent so many different walks of life, experiences, countries of origin, abilities, and perspectives.  To best serve them, we must both understand our own perspectives, but also make efforts to ensure that our federal workforce reflects the diversity of the United States.  In the State Department, we have the incredible opportunity to tell the story of the United States abroad. Celebrating our differences, in addition to what binds us together, helps paint a more complete and accurate picture of the United States.  It also strengthens our workforce by allowing us to draw upon the skills and experiences of each individual.   I’m so proud to be a part of AAFAA’s work to advance DEIA across the Department

Joanna Olivera, Civil Service, Program Analyst, Office of Modernization and Systems Liaison – Data Sharing Division (Passport Services) 

Tell us about yourself and your heritage. 

Being asked about my heritage is often an exercise in qualifying statements and deciding how much information I want to divulge from the jump. I’m Chinese, but: 

I grew up in the United States 

I took my spouse’s surname 

I can’t speak Mandarin 

I was adopted 

Today, I will give you the full story. I’m Chinese, but I grew up in the United States, and I don’t speak Mandarin because I was adopted, although I do speak Spanish because I learned as an adult. I spent most of my life in South Carolina before moving to Washington, DC. Ironically, given how out of place I felt growing up there, I’ve come to identify as a southerner and have accepted that “y’all” is the superior method of referring to you in the plural.  

How have you drawn on your heritage in your work as a diplomat? 

I’d like to clarify that I work for the Civil Service. I work as a Program Analyst with the Data Sharing Division, part of the Passport Services Directorate. Previously, I worked as a Passport Specialist at the Charleston Passport Center. 

That said, I draw on my heritage as a reminder to myself to interrogate questions more deeply and not make lazy assumptions. My face and my name tell two different stories, and neither is corroborated by my lived experiences. I am a walking example of the deceptive nature of first glances. 

I try to extend grace and compassion to those navigating the bureaucracy that comes with life-changing events like documenting U.S. citizenship. Those same acts of paperwork shaped the trajectory of my own life irrevocably. I was adopted at ten months old and grew up in the United States, a U.S. citizen and native English-speaker. I graduated from a public university and immediately joined the Civil Service thereafter. Had I not been adopted, my life would be unrecognizable. It can be easy to get lost in the process of work and pretend that the actions we take happen in a void, but we cannot forget that there are real people dependent on the outcomes of what we accomplish. 

Why is a culture of diversity and inclusion important to the U.S. government and the workforce in general? 

Diversity is what makes the United States a beautiful country. It is so integral to our identity that we branded it the American Dream and exported the idea to the rest of the world: anyone can come here and make something of themselves. Inclusion in government, or any workplace, allows historically underrepresented groups to exert influence and enact positive change, and tapping into diverse perspectives and experiences means that the United States has a unique advantage on the world stage. I hate to end on a platitude, but it’s true; if all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. 

This blog is part of the State Department’s Asian American Foreign Affairs Association (AAFAA) AANHPI Heritage Month outreach efforts. Established in 1981, AAFAA is an association of more than 900 Civil Service and Foreign Service employees, fellows, contractors, interns, and retirees at the U.S. Department of State with the mission to improve recruitment, outreach, and professional development of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) officers. AAFAA welcomes all employees across the Department. Please reach out to aafaa.state.gov to join and follow us on Facebook.

Elizabeth “Liz” Liu, Foreign Service Officer and President of the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association at the U.S. Department of State, coordinated the responses for this entry. We thank Jeremiah, Miki, Sarahann, and Joanna for contributing their time and effort to share their stories on DipNote.