About Lily
Born and raised in Shanghai during China’s Cultural Revolution, Lily came to the United States alone in 1989 at the age of 25. She arrived in Indiana, far from home and from everything she knew, carrying little more than the hope of creating new opportunities for herself. She worked several campus jobs while completing her studies, built a family, earned two master’s degrees, and eventually made her way to the Washington D.C. region.
Her journey across two countries has given Lily a unique perspective on belonging, identity, and what it means to become American. Her experiences growing up in Shanghai, adapting to life in the United States, and building a career and community here have shaped her lifelong interest in connecting people and cultures. While working at American University, she managed a minority student retention program and developed a deeper understanding of race and community in America. She later built a career in economic development, public affairs, and community leadership in Washington and Montgomery County, MD.
For Lily, becoming part of America was never simply about changing where she lived. It was about learning how to participate, finding a sense of community, and eventually helping others feel that they belonged too. Over the years, she has served on numerous nonprofit boards and commissions and worked to encourage immigrant communities to become more engaged in civic life.
Today, Lily continues to share her experiences as an immigrant, mother, community leader, and American who has lived through two very different systems and cultures. Her memoir Elected American brings together these experiences—from her childhood in Shanghai and journey to the United States to the unexpected path that eventually led her into public life. At its heart, her story is about finding home, building community, and discovering what it means to become American.