Lotus Project Team
meet the team
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meet the team 〰️
TOORU NEMOTO, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator & Research Project Director
(He/Him)Dr. Tooru Nemoto is Research Program Director at the Public Health Institute (PHI). Before joining PHI, Dr. Nemoto was Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF). He has been mainly engaging in substance abuse and HIV prevention studies and service projects for under-served and stigmatized populations, such as transgender and gender non-binary people, men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers in the U.S. and Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. He has been awarded a number of grants and service contracts from NIH, SAMHSA, CDC, HRSA, and private foundations. As Project Director, he recently completed a 5-year SAMHSA funded project providing trauma-informed care and prevention services targeting Asian youths in Alameda County. He co-authored a number of research papers in the field of substance abuse and HIV prevention and health promotion for under-served sexual, gender, and racial minority groups in peer-reviewed journals.
MARIKO IWAMOTO, M.A.
Project Coordinator
(She/Her)I have a Master’s degree in social psychology and oversee multiple community-based HIV and substance abuse intervention projects targeting ethnic and gender minorities in the US and Asian counties. My background also includes vital social services experiences in the Asian community. I have been volunteering at the local shelter for many years, advocating for Asian victims of domestic violence. My involvement with various communities and projects targeting underserved populations has allowed me to develop a strong understanding of community needs. Working for the Asian and underserved communities to promote their health and well-being has been my passion.
ANGELA TANG, MSW, LCSW
Project Coordinator
(She/Her)Angela Tang is the Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS), which is a subcontractor under Public Health Institute for The Lotus Project. In addition, Ms. Tang is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Smith College School for Social Work (honorary) and a Program Advisor for Boston University School of Social Work. She was also on the founding Board of Directors for Friends of Roots, a volunteer-run genealogy organization that promotes an awareness of the Chinese American identity. A San Francisco native, Ms. Tang earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree at SF State University and received her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. Her areas of interest include macro-level, systems, and strengths-based theories & practices; organizational development; and program evaluation.
CRUZ CHAN, M.A., LMFT, RDT
Clinical Manager, Healing for Asians at Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS), San Francisco
(She/Her, They/Them)A Cantonese and Mandarin-speaking clinician, Cruz graduated from California Institute of Integral Studies (San Francisco), with a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Drama Therapy. In Cruz's new role as Clinical Manager, Cruz will be further developing the RAMS Healing for Asians program which provides trauma informed mental health services to limited English speaking Asian victims of crime. This RAMS program is part of San Francisco’s multi-system, initial answer and collaborative solution to the “Anti-Asian Hate”. Cruz is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist as well as a Registered Drama Therapist. Cruz's background also includes providing mental health services to children, youth, families and adults at RAMS outpatient and school-based programs. Prior to clinical work, Cruz has also participated in many drama performances and was a radio host and producer in Macau. Currently, Cruz is actively receiving training in psychodrama under the guidelines of the American Board of Examiner of Psychodrama, Group Psychotherapy and Sociometry (ABE), and presented in the 2020 North American Drama Therapy Association Conference.
ELLEN CHANG
Project Assistant
(She/They)Ellen is a second generation Taiwanese American who values connection, community, and growth. She helps to develop and disseminate the project website, resources, webinars/workshops, and support project advocacy interns and high school volunteers as the project assistant. Ellen obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts in Cognitive Science and a minor in Global Public Health at UC Berkeley in 2020 and is currently pursuing an MSW/MPH dual degree at UC Berkeley to strengthen her ability to better support the AAPI community in reducing mental health disparities, increase culturally sensitive mental health programs, and work towards the long-term healing and empowerment of these communities.
KEYE XU, Ph.D.
Research Associate
(She/her)As a Research Associate, Keye is dedicated to bridging evidence-based programs and rigorous psychological research with culturally-relevant mental health practices to better support children and families in AAPI and immigrant communities. She gained her Ph.D degree in Education (human development and psychology focus) from University of California, Los Angeles, with her dissertation exploring the cultural nuances of parenting among Chinese American mothers.
KRISTEN FU, M.S.
Research Associate
(She/Her)As a Research Associate, Kristen contributes to public health research and projects that support the implementation of culturally sensitive and evidence-based interventions and practices for AAAI children and families. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science and a minor in Digital Humanities from UCLA and a Master of Science in Global Health Sciences from UCSF. With a background in global health and a strong commitment to health justice, Kristen is dedicated to supporting and empowering underserved communities to address health disparities and promote health equity.
MIN ZHENG, B.A.
Research Assistant
(She/Her)As an immigrant herself, Min is eager to forge connections within the Asian American and Asian Immigrant (AAAI) communities. In her role as a Research Assistant at PHI, she channels her efforts to address the mental health needs prevalent in the community. Min earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Human Factors from USC East Bay in 2022. As a member of the Lotus Team, Min often works with field experts to continue improving her grasp of effective strategies to support the mental health of AAAI populations. With a steadfast commitment to her community, Min aims to make a meaningful impact by promoting mental health awareness and hopes to contribute to building a healthier, more resilient future for these communities.