Executive Board

We are currently looking to expand our community and welcome new Board Members onto our team! Please contact us for more information on how you can become involved.

ACMA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Khoa Truong (He/His/Him)

Vice Chair

San Diego native Dr. Khoa D Truong, O.D. has been a member of the American Optometric Association, California Optometric Association, and San Diego Optometric Society for over fifteen years. He was a member of the President’s Lions Club and used his expertise to conduct free vision screenings and health fairs for the community of San Diego. He also has his own wellness talk show on Vietnamese Television (VNTV) that helps address different aspects of health and life with co-host Dana Vo.

Truong graduated from UCSD in 1998 majoring in Biology and Psychology with Magna Cum Laude honors and Phi Beta Kappa distinction. In 2002, he received his doctor of optometry degree from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry and earned high honors at most of his externships. After graduating from optometry school, he worked with an ophthalmologist to gain more knowledge on the treatment of ocular diseases and soon after became a mananging doctor for Eyexam of CA/Lenscrafters for seven years.

Cathlyn Choi (She/Her/Hers)

Exec Director/Board Chair

Dubbed "Korean Food Ambassador" by the media, Cathlyn is a multi award winning TV show host and producer of the first Korean TV cooking show in English on PBS called “Cathlyn’s Korean Kitchen" and Asian Voices, a cultural and educational television program featuring Asian and Pacific Islanders, community, art, culture and events in Southern California. Cathlyn is the co-owner of CNA Digital Media Marketing Services, specializing in digital media marketing and TV/Film production.

In addition to being the founder and board chair of Asian Culture and Media Alliance, Cathlyn served on the board of Taylion High Desert Academy for 4 years, and past Chapter President of Korean Women’s International Network for 5 years. In addition to 20 years of international business development and new media marketing background, Cathlyn has over 18 years of experience as a reporter, TV show host and MC in Korea, Brunei and US.

Ellen Keaton (She/Her/Hers)

Treasurer

Born in Richmond, Kentucky to a Japanese mother and Cherokee Indian and Irish father, Ellen studied art at eastern Kentucky University, where she also worked as a library technician. In addition to 6 years of experience working as an advertising and graphic designer. Ellen has over 13 years of background as a commissions specialist and currently works for the Producers Group, an insurance brokerage in La Jolla.

In her spare time, Ellen enjoys playing golf and volunteering at non-profit organizations in San Diego, organizing and distributing toys to families and children such as Toys for Tots and is an active member of Ladies on Course.

Hyosoon Park (She/Her/Hers)

Secretary

A community activist with a passion for promoting Korean culture, Hyosoon co-founded a non profit organization called San Diego Pungmul Institute with her husband in 2009 to create awareness of Korean folk music in the United States while fostering and mentoring second generation Korean Americans teaching then about the importance of cultural roots and tradition.

Since then, she has been performing with her group at dozens of cultural events and festivals annually throughout Southern California. Hyosoon currently works as a full time high school’s math teacher at SDUHS and volunteers her time at various non profit organizations in the Korean community.

Christine Miranda (She/Her/Hers)

Events / Cultural Programming

Christine is the co-founder and owner of Makani Kai, a Polynesian dance group established in 1993 along with a group of professional Polynesian dancers. Beginning with regular performances at Sea World and throughout San Diego during the 90’s, today Makani Kai has become a thriving Polynesian entertainment troupe completed with live drumming and a live band “Moku Kani."

Christine also opened a school in the recent years to provide opportunities for the youth in her community to learn cultural dance, and music. With her love and passion for dance, music and culture, Christine is always striving to perpetuate the Polynesian culture with honor and respect - Haumana for life, sharing the foundation of Aloha with many.

Dennis-Michael Broussard (He/His/Him)

Event Production

Dennis Michael is the recipient of numerous awards, commendations, and recognition for his community involvement and outreach efforts. For the past decade, he has hosted and produced many cultural events and festivals in San Diego namely the Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego, the San Diego Ramen Festival, the AMP Music Festival, and many other large community events.

Additionally, Dennis-Michael is known for his humanitarian efforts around the globe. He volunteered at an orphanage in Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, helping to build a classroom; volunteered at an educational center in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, teaching English; distributed water filters where there is limited to no access to clean drinking water in slums and villages in Senegal, Kenya, and Tanzania as well as teaching supplies and school equipment in Nepal.

Helen Oh (She/Her/Hers)

Events / Community Outreach

Born in a musical family, an opera singer, Helen Oh, is a soprano who has sung in operas such as Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, La Traviata, Cosi fan Tutte, etc. Helen is involved with various nonprofits and volunteers her time at elementary schools, senior centers, and communities like Korean American Association, Radio Korea, to name a few.

She loves meeting new people and getting involved in societies where people influence our world to be a better place to live in. Raising 3 kids has gotten her even more excited because all of them are naturally talented and educated accordingly and got to know great people like Hyosoon Park and Cathlyn Choi from performances they have been involved in. She is excited and feels proud to be a part of ACMA, and hopes to bring joy working as a team!

Jeanie Alfafara (She/Her/Hers)

Community Outreach

Jeanie is a driven and dynamic real estate professional, hailing from the Philippines and raised in San Francisco and San Diego, USA. She attended San Diego State University and University of Hawaii, graduating with a BA in Graphic Arts from SDSU. An energetic entrepreneur, she has always been a creative force, starting out as a graphic artist, photographer, and professional oil painter.

Jeanie then ventured into owning a freelance court reporting business before finally landing her dream job as a realtor over nine years ago. Specializing in property management, she has been making her mark in the real estate industry. She is not just a successful professional but also a talented athlete. Competing in racquet sports tournaments has always been her passion, previously in tennis and now in pickleball. Her love for the sport is so great that she is launching her very own pickleball line this year. As a mother of three children, she is a master at balancing her professional and personal life, and always strives to give her best in everything she does. She is truly an inspiration to those around her.

Joanne Whitlock (She/Her/Hers)

Media Programming

Major Joanne Whitlock is an Air Force Officer and recently led their service wide efforts for AAPI Heritage Month while also serving as member of their Barrier Analysis Working Group. In this capacity, Joanne is involved in analyzing data, trends and barriers to identify and address issues impacting AANHPI personnel in the Air Force. Born and raised in the Philippines, Joanne is a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion and promoting AANHPI heritage across various platforms.

She holds a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and a Masters Degree in Forensic Science and was a former Medicolegal Death Investigator in the Washington, DC area (Northern Virginia). Joanne also volunteers her time serving as a mentor for Big Brother Big Sister. “

Nanda Mehta (She/Her/Hers)

Events / Cultural Programming

Nanda Mehta is a giant for the South Asian community in San Diego. She is the founder and managing director of Ahaana, a South Asian organization based here. Her exuberant, charismatic personality comes through in all the events she has hosted in San Diego since 2013. Having been active in Indian organizations from the time she was 19, it was natural for Mehta to create Ahaana and launch “Yoni Ki Baat.”

YKB is the South Asian version of The Vagina Monologues and has received rave reviews and strong attendance for the live performances. She encourages men and women to speak about subjects that are huge taboos in South Asian culture.

Sue Mendoza (She/Her/Hers)

Events/Cultural Programming

A compassionate and dedicated RN who hails from the stunning island of Guam, Sue was born and raised as the youngest of four siblings, she completed her Associate in Nursing degree from Guam Community College. She then took a leap of faith and moved to California to pursue her nursing career, and has been making a significant impact in the field ever since.

Currently employed as a Clinical Coordinator at Mission Home Health, she has been using her skills and expertise to improve the lives of those in her care. Her dedication to nursing goes beyond her professional work, as she is also a member of the United Rosarian, USA organization. This group is dedicated to developing infrastructure and schools in a small town in Rosario, Pangasinan Philippines, highlighting her deep commitment to making a difference in the world. In her free time, she enjoys cycling or going to the beach. Her love for the outdoors and staying active fuels her drive to make a positive impact in the world. She is an inspiration to those around her, and her unwavering commitment to her work and causes close to her heart is truly remarkable.

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