Tanya and her mother fled the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with two outfits and a stack of immigration paperwork. She wore one outfit, and the other, along with the crucial documents, were safely tucked away in a plastic bag on the airplane.
As a Bilingual Community Researcher, Tanya has a special interest in behavioral health and wellness within cultural communities. From early childhood to aging and older adults, she has a passion for and a focus on the Vietnamese community in Minnesota. Most recently, she was part of a team of researchers for multicultural community leader listening sessions, with an emphasis on mental health and wellness in cultural communities.
Before joining Wilder Research in 2024, Tanya maintained close ties to the Vietnamese community by working as a professional interpreter in the Twin Cities, mostly in health care settings. She has served thousands of Vietnamese in accessing health care over the past 10 years. Prior to that, she was a small business owner in downtown St. Paul. She holds an Associate Degree in Cosmetology from Aveda Institute; certificates and training in Community Interpreter for Health, Education, and Human Services; and she is a listed member in Minnesota Department of Health and Medical Interpreter Roster.
Tanya and her husband recently reached empty-nester status. So in her free time, Tanya loves to spend time with old friends, swim and sauna at the Chaska Community Center, and knit sweaters for her kids to wear in college.