Career Reflections from a Chinese American Geology Professor

I’ve enjoyed a rich career of four decades in academia as a Chinese American sedimentary geology professor. From the start, I was a clear minority, being nonwhite and a woman, but somehow with strong mentors and good fortune, I survived, persevered, and flourished. Despite discrimination and marginalization, there have been many positives, and the superb students and colleagues I have met on my journey have enriched my life immensely. I want to see geoscience change to become one of the most inclusive sciences because it is really a capstone science that needs broad and diverse perspectives. I hope my story can encourage others and also highlight how we should continue to create opportunities for inclusive participation. The future of our Earth and the balance of nature and society depend on it!