Angela Chen
Position: Board Member
Angela Chuan Ru Chen, Ph.D. (she/they) is a nationally recognized leader in undocumented student support and higher education equity. With over 20 years of experience across the University of California system, she currently serves as Director of the DREAM Center at UC Irvine, where she leads award-winning programs including $900,000+ in annual scholarships, international travel opportunities for DACA students, and research-informed services that drive institutional change.
Angela holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA. Her research spans institutional allyship, transformative resistance, and undocumented student access, and has been cited in national policy discussions, including federal documents related to the U.S. Supreme Court’s DACA deliberations. A widely published scholar and practitioner, she brings deep expertise and lived experience to her work, transforming systems and expanding opportunity.
