Class Name: Dirty Dozen, Spring 1993               

Nickname: Lawnfish

What is your current occupation? Elementary School Principal in Los Angeles Unified School District.

What do you love most about Education? Public Education is a structure in which every child can thrive. I love my students and watching them grow day-to-day and through the years. It is absolutely incredible when students realize they have so many thoughts and ideas and that these are valuable to share in speaking, in Writing, Art, Math and through Leadership. I love when students find their voice.

What is one of your favorite memories, events or activities while being an active/FIM? The memory that really jumps at me is when our pledge mom was taken by surprise on an early afternoon. Pledges and mom crowded in a car; I don't even remember where we were headed.  We drove up to the administration building and low and behold a crowd of about 50 young men were ready to chapel run. One of them jumped on the car windshield. In a panic the windshield wipers went on. I am not sure how I continued driving through the laughter and tears. It still makes me laugh.

What piece of advice would you give your sisters? Stay connected with one another. The bonds that you create now can truly last a lifetime.  With sisters, all things are possible.

What do you enjoy the most about the Association? I have truly enjoyed working with the women on the board who love the organization as much as I do.  They each have strengths and gifts that they have readily given to the building of our alumni association for the purpose of supporting the sisterhood. 

Motto or personal mantra? Be the change you want to see in the world.

Class Name: Dirty Dozen, Spring 1993                

Nickname: Tikkie

How would you describe yourself in three words? Joyful, Friendly, and Collaborative

What are your favorite pastimes?  I absolutely love going to concerts especially summer concerts at the pools. I live in Las Vegas and there are always opportunities to see great artists. I also enjoy traveling and am looking forward to spending time with my Sisters in a Caribbean island soon!

What is your favorite Sigma memory event? Hands down favorite -- happy hour on the roof of the sorority house. We spent so much time up there chatting, dancing, drinking, listening to music. Looking back, I’m surprised that public safety never cited us or asked us to get down.

What’s something about you that not many people know? In the fall of 2020, I started a doctoral program in Public Policy at UNLV. I will complete the program (crossing fingers) in the spring of 2023. Also, in my 20's I was in a band – Dangerous Kazoo Kitties – as lead singer and kazoo player.

Class Name: Funky Fresh Faithful Four, Fall 1996          

Nickname: Bruiser

How would you describe yourself in three words? Tenacious, Independent, and Determined

How do you spend your time when you are not working? My profession sometimes doesn't allow for much free time.  I am a tax accountant.  But when time does allow for it, my significant other and I love to travel.  Monterey is our favorite place to go.  We love the ocean.  Europe will be our next destination.  We also spend the time learning to bake new things. We are getting better at the French pastries. 

What is one or your proudest professional accomplishments that occurred after graduating? After years of hard work, having a successful business that I personally own. 

Tell us a little bit about your family. I have a daughter. My daughter is now 25 years old. She is married and has a child of her own now. So, I am a Mema! Which I love so very much. My grandson brings me so much joy. I was so lucky that they lived so close to me, but they have now moved to Missouri and I miss them so much!  My significant other does IT for a nearby school district. I am very thankful that our paths crossed and that we have found each other. He completes me for sure. 

Motto or personal mantra? “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” You never know what someone is going through. I always try to remind myself of that. Just because someone smiles and seems happy all the time, doesn’t mean they are not fighting a battle privately. Kindness goes a long way.

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” 

― Robert F. Kennedy 

What is something people may not know about you? I was born one week after my parents immigrated to the United States. I was named in honor of that.  In the Western world my name is read Huong Julie-My Tran. But in Vietnamese it's read as Tran Julie My Huong. My = America and Huong = part of the Vietnamese word que huong meaning  homeland. So my name honors not only the new country  America and reminds them of Viet Nam.

What piece of advice would you give your sisters?  Time is non-refundable. Use it with intention.

What is your current occupation?: I am a Naturopathic Doctor and Licensed Acupuncturist. I have a private practice in San Jose, CA, Silicon Valley Natural Health

Growing up I dealt with weight and body image issues stemming from family criticism especially from my mom and cousin.

I remember when my cousin told me that to be successful I needed to be thin and also asked me don't you want your future husband to be able to carry you across the threshold?

I felt sad, disempowered, insecure and very angry. The anger turned to spite; the spite fueled my fire, my resolve. In that moment I took my power back and promised myself to always act with confidence and to do things on my terms, in my own way. An example of this is when I decided to attend Naturopathic Medical School, I was criticized for not going to regular medical school and didn’t I know that the Naturopathic Doctor’s License wasn’t recognized in CA yet. In my four years of school, I earned a doctorate, and two masters and in my 1st year of school, the state of CA recognized the naturopathic doctor’s license.

Today I take great pride in instilling confidence and empowering my patients to ultimately choose themselves, to invest in themselves to achieve optimal health and a life without the limits of poor health, self -doubt and self- criticism. This is why I do what I do as a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and Licensed Acupuncturist.