FIRST-GEN SUCCESS. Jesse Yang, videographer at UW-Eau Claire, is one of the recipients of this year's UW Outstanding Women in Color Education Awards. (Submitted photo)

Jesse Yang, a videographer in Integrated Marketing and Communications at UW-Eau Claire, is among the recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award from the Universities of Wisconsin.

The UW recognized the achievements of Yang and 11 other women who have advanced equity and inclusion for people of color within the university system and in communities across the state at an awards ceremony Dec. 4 in Madison. This year is the 29th anniversary of the award given to faculty, staff, students or community members through which more than 400 women of color have been recognized for their work.

“The Universities of Wisconsin have a long-standing commitment to inclusion at our universities,” says UW President Jay Rothman. “We are proud to honor these women of color whose achievements are helping our campuses and communities.” 

Yang says she is humbled and honored to be this year’s award recipient.

“Colleagues see and recognize my work and the efforts I have contributed to the campus community that support students and the institution’s goals with equity, diversity and inclusion,” Yang says. “Every day, I get the privilege of learning and working alongside a community of Blugolds through my primary line of work with videography, a longstanding passion of mine that enables me to connect and interact with the amazing students, faculty, staff and alumni who make this a great place to be.” 

I feel honored to be part of a collective community in making those culturally reflective experiences happen that enable students to cultivate a sense of belonging, community and identity. –Jesse Yang

As a first-generation college graduate of UW-Eau Claire, Yang says it is a privilege to be at her alma mater serving in various roles and campus efforts that allow her to engage with students and contribute toward their undergraduate experience and successes. As an IMC videographer, she captures and produces video content that shows and tells the unique stories of college students and highlights the incredible work and projects of faculty and staff. 

Yang’s professional work with video storytelling extends beyond campus into capturing video of and facilitating the experiences of students engaging in global, intercultural learning abroad. She has co-led high-impact immersion programs, most recently to Thailand and Hawaii, to deepen students’ learning and engagement with people, cultures, languages, environments and systems similar to or different from their own. 

Additionally, through UW-Eau Claire’s International Fellows Program, she had the opportunity to co-lead faculty-student research in France for students to develop comparative, transnational analysis of the Hmong diaspora and identify how French economic, health system and social networking transform Hmong life and affect Hmong culture and identity in France. 

“There are a diverse range of experiential learning opportunities for students to take part in at UW-Eau Claire, guided by institutional support to help make them possible,” Yang says. “I feel honored to be part of a collective community in making those culturally reflective experiences happen that enable students to cultivate a sense of belonging, community and identity.”

Yang has taught a beginning journalism course in the communication and journalism department and currently teaches a senior honors seminar course in the University Honors Program. She also serves as a resource to BIPOC and first-generation students. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW-Eau Claire and her master’s in integrated marketing communications with an emphasis in creative strategy from West Virginia University.

Learn more about the Oustanding Women of Color in Education Award and previous recipients online.