A professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico–Valencia Campus, Dr. Julia Wai-Yin So has been teaching/writing on diversity & inclusiveness, leadership & change, and Asian & Latino cultures since 1995. With decades of international experience working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds while living in Hong Kong, Japan and Ecuador. She is an expert on UNRAVELing the Three Cs to debunk certain cultural communication codes that one uses or presenting the Asian/Latino Parallels about the similarities of the two fastest growing racial/ethnic minority groups in the US. In addition to other cultural proficiency training such as “Understanding the LGBTQI Community” or “Interacting with People with Disabilities,” Dr. So also provides services on culture coaching, mediation relating to cultural misunderstanding, and D&I program evaluation. Some of her clients include the Stryker Corporation, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, Department of Defense-Logistics Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, the City of Dallas, the City of Tallahassee, the University of North Dakota, New Mexico State University, and Jefferson Community and Technical College.
While living in Dallas Texas, Dr. So had successfully managed a $30-million scholarship program for the Dallas College, the then Dallas County Community College District. A compassionate volunteer, she is Past Board Chair of the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Past President of North Texas Chapter of the Texas Diversity Council, and Past President of the New Mexico Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Some of her accolades include National Institutional Excellence Award of the National Organization of Chinese Americans, Distinguished Alumna Award of the Tarrant County College, Power of One Award of the Dallas Human Resource Management Association, Diversity Leadership Award of the Texas Diversity Council, and Member Dedication Award of FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association in Albuquerque. All these, plus Teacher of Year Award in 2018 awarded by UNM-Valencia Campus.
A graduate of Leadership Dallas and Leadership America, Dr. So received her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington, and PhD. in Public Policy and Political
Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas. She presently also serves as a mediator for the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court in Albuquerque, NM.
Dr. So can be reached at juliaso@unm.edu or julia@sogarcia.us
