Dr. Hongmei Li serves as the Founding President of AWARE Ohio. She is a Full Professor of Strategic Communication at Miami University and Director of Documenting Asian American Histories in Ohio. Over the past decade, she has become deeply engaged in initiatives supporting the Asian American community and has recognized a pressing need for a nonprofit organization that fosters stronger bonds within Asian American communities while building bridges to others. She draws on her media expertise and leadership experience to advocate for Asian American voices and promote cross-cultural understanding across diverse communities. 

Yuxing Wang serves as Secretary of AWARE Ohio. He is co-founder of MilesAhead Energy LLC and owner of Alternative Lab Source LLC. Yuxing has led several government-funded research projects and mentored numerous engineering students and interns through roles at universities and research institutes. As a first-generation immigrant and father of two, he is passionate about immigration justice and fostering inclusive communities.

Yanfen Yang serves as the Treasuer of AWARE Ohio. She is a clinical research professional with a background in medicine and biomedical science. As a dedicated first-generation immigrant and a mother of two, she is motivated by the persistent misrepresentation and marginalization of Chinese immigrant communities. She is passionate about empowering Asian Americans, fostering intercommunity collaboration, and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Yuepeng Deng serves as the Director of Advancement at AWARE Ohio. He is Head of Analytics at First Solar, where he supports clean energy innovation through data and strategy. Yuepeng also is a bivocational pastor at a local Christian church, devoted to sharing the Gospel and shepherding others in their walk with Christ. He serves on the board of the Qinghuangdao/Nanchong Committee of Toledo Sister Cities International, fostering cross-cultural understanding and service. Yuepeng is deeply committed to living out his faith by promoting love, grace, and justice in both his local community and global outreach.

Louisa Ha serves as the Workshop Program Director at AWARE Ohio. She is a Distinguished Research Professor in the School of Media and Communication and founder of the Global Social Media Influencer Research Lab at Bowling Green State University. She has edited five books, including U.S.-China Trade War: Global News Framing and Public Opinion in the Digital Age and Asian Women Leadership: A Cross-national and Cross Sector Comparison. She has been a Homeowners Association Board Director for more than 6 years and a former President of the Board of Directors of Chinese Center of Toledo. 

Cherice Chan serves as the Youth Program Director at AWARE Ohio and leads the youth advisory board program. She is also a Program Coordinator at the University of Michigan Digital Studies Institute, where she supports an initiative that envisions an equitable digital future. Cherice previously served as a project coordinator and youth advisory board director for a research initiative exploring racial socialization among Asian American youth. She is passionate about ethnic studies, racial justice, and youth leadership development. Cherice is a second-generation Asian American and is based in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio.

Xiang Zhang is a professor in a college of medicine and serves as director of one of the college's best-equipped core facilities for biomedical research. He earned his master’s degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and his PhD from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. As an immigrant living in Mason, Ohio, his life was once removed from politics—peaceful and quiet. However, it wasn’t until recently, when he learned about proposed state legislation that could force him to sell his home, that he realized the importance of advocating for Asian American and immigrant rights—a mission that aligns with the goals of the organization. He now feels compelled to contribute to the cause.