Mission
The Student Engaged Participatory Action Research Center (SEPARC) is a group of participatory action researchers and research projects housed within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a partnership approach to action research that emphasizes participation from members of the community most affected by the research phenomenon through authentic collaboration and shared decision-making to answer questions that are most important to them and to use what they have learned to generate actionable change. SEPARC partners with historically marginalized or minoritized student groups in higher education settings to investigate the educational issues and experiences important to them through critical race, decolonial, and feminist lens. Our largest project to date is Our HMoob American College Paj Ntaub which examines the college experiences of HMoob American students in Wisconsin. We also provide workshops to teach other researchers how to incorporate participatory approaches in their work, host social justice education events, and facilitate public presentations and webinars of PAR scholarship.
Team
Matthew Wolfgram, Ph.D.
Matthew Wolfgram, Ph.D., is an anthropologist of education and education researcher at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. His research employs ethnography, participatory action research, and other qualitative research methods to study factors that impact the educational experiences of minoritized college students. His recent publications are featured in New Directions for Higher Education, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, Harvard Education Review, Teachers College Record, AERA Open, Journal of Education and Work, Action Research, and Anthropology & Education Quarterly.
Bailey B. Smolarek, Ph.D.
Bailey B. Smolarek (she/her) holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction and is a Researcher at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and Teaching Faculty in the Department of Education Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She uses critical, decolonial, and feminist theories to explore the experiences of historically marginalized and/or excluded populations. Prior to receiving her PhD, Bailey taught secondary and postsecondary Spanish and English as a Second Language courses in the U.S. and abroad.
Chundou Her
Chundou Her (they/them/theirs) is a graduate student in Curriculum & Instruction at UW-Madison. Their research interest sits at the intersection of storytelling, youth activism, art, transformative justice, and participatory methods. Through their work, Chundou’s greater goal is to reimagine and redistribute who is considered a producer of precious knowledge. Additionally, Chundou hopes to bear witness to people’s educational stories and work towards collective healing and community growth.
Kong Pheng Pha
Kong Pheng Pha’s research explores the histories of refugee migration, queer and anti-racist social movements/community organizing, and Asian American racial, gender, sexual, and queer formations, with particular attention on Hmong Americans. He is currently writing two books, the first is an academic monograph that explores the racial, gender, and queer dimensions of Hmong social and political life in the U.S. The second is a book of essays that contemplates what it means to be Hmong in a revolutionary America. His work has also been published/forthcoming in Hmong Studies Journal, Minnesota History, Amerasia, Journal of Asian American Studies, American Quarterly, Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, AGITATE! Journal, and American Studies.
Mai See Thao
Mai See Thao, PhD is a medical anthropologist who studies post-refugee experiences with chronic disease and how they illuminate the structural vulnerabilities that refugees continue to face as they age in their place of home/resettlement. Her research addresses the interconnections of violence and care, aging for refugees, and the intervention of public humanities. She is a community-based participatory researcher (CBPR), teaching social science theory to community members and leading community-based projects on the social determinants of health for type 2 diabetes and a traveling exhibit on Hmong historical trauma and healing in Wisconsin.
Stacey Lee
Stacey J. Lee is a Vilas Research Professor and the Frederick Erickson WARF Professor of Educational Policy Studies and a faculty affiliate in Asian American Studies. Her research focuses on the role of education in the incorporation of im/migrants into the US. She is the author of Unraveling the Model Minority Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth and Up Against Whiteness: Race, School and Immigrant Youth, and Resisting Asian American Invisibility: The Politics of Race and Education.
You-Geon Lee
Dr. You-Geon Lee studies postsecondary teaching and learning, graduate education, academic careers, and educational reform in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). His research interests also include school choice, school effects, policy and program evaluation, social stratification, and educational inequality. He is a quantitative researcher of the Longitudinal Study of Future STEM Scholars (LSFSS) and the Talking about Leaving, Revisited (TALR). He earned a doctorate in Educational Policy Studies with a concentration in the sociology of education from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Edward Xiong
Edward Xiong (He/Him/His) is an undergraduate student studying Textile and Fashion Design and a certificate in Asian American Studies with a HMoob Studies Emphasis at UW-Madison. His designs or artwork takes inspiration from his own experience and HMoob arts to bring forth conversations about what the HMoob American experience is and about marginalized communities. Also, he currently is an undergraduate researcher for the Paj Ntaub participatory research team through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
Steven Yang
Steven Yang (they/them/theirs) is a research intern and UW alum with degrees in International Studies, Chinese, and East Asian Studies. They have been a part of the Paj Ntaub team for a year and a half, assisting with the project’s qualitative analysis and community engagement. Steven aims to diversify and demystify higher education for the broader HMoob community, hoping to illuminate various social and institutional forces HMoob students may experience.
Susan Vang
Susan Vang (she/her) is an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in psychology and minoring in Asian American studies with a focus on HMoob studies. Currently, she is involved with the HMoob American College Paj Ntaub, working to address racial disparities and gaps in the educational system. Through her work, Susan aims to advocate for greater inclusivity and support for HMoob students and other marginalized groups in higher education.
Scy Yang
Scy Yang (she/her) is an undergraduate student researcher studying Rehabilitation Psycholgy with an Asian American Certificate. Post Grad, she plans to continue her studies at UW Madison’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program. She has been actively engaged with the Paj Ntaub research team for over a year and a half, conducting research aimed at raising awareness around the disparities faced by Hmong students.
Elijah Lin
Elijah Lin (Any All Pronouns) is an undergraduate student in Educational Policy Studies & Psychology with a certificate in Gender & Women Studies. Their research interests focus on utilizing critical theories (Intersectional Feminism, Queer, etc.) to understand and shine a light on how underrepresented students navigate and belong in higher education, and how higher education (re)produces inequalities around race, gender, and class.
Kayeng Yang
UW Oskhosh Team
Choua Xiong
Choua P. Xiong is an Assistant Professor of Hmong Studies and Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Her research approach is informed by her activism as a motherscholar in Southeast Asian community-based educational spaces, schools, and higher education. She leads various community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) projects that center the perspectives of minoritized communities and the roles they play in educating youth about schooling, political participation, and belonging. She teaches a range of courses in Hmong Studies and Educational Studies that examine displacement, racialization, intersectionality, and non-state community and home-making.
Mai Chong Yang
Mai Chong Yang (she/her/hers) is a UW-Oshkosh alumna with a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Hmong Studies Certificate. She has been a part of the Our HMoob American College Paj Ntauj team for over 2 years with a focus on the impact of the WiscAMP program at UW-Milwaukee. She is the project coordinator for UW-Oshkosh NSF grant project, an extension of the Paj Ntaub project. Mai Chong hopes this project receives the acknowledgement of Hmoob American college students’ experiences in higher education and continue to advocate and support underrepresented minorities.
Andy Yang
Andy Yang (she/her/hers) is a junior majoring in Accounting at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She has been a student researcher for the NSF research team at the UW-Oshkosh site since March of 2023. By joining this research team, she hopes to connect more with the Hmong community at the UW-Oshkosh campus.
Cheemeng Xiong
Cheemeng Xiong (he/him/his) is an alumni with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UW-Oshkosh. He has been involved with UWO College Paj Ntaub team since the beginning as a lead student researcher. Cheemeng has recruited and interviewed participants for this project. In Cheemeng’s current role, he supports the data analysis, coding process, and training new student researchers about student-driven participatory research design.
Vincent Lee
Vincent Lee (he/him/his) majoring in Communication. He joined the UWO NSF Research Team since March 2023, and has recruited and conducted multiple research interviews. Career plans is to get involved in the non-profit organization area. Vincent also serves as the Vice President in the Hmong Student Union (HSU), a student organization, and the Hmong Studies representative in 2022.
Pangra Yang
Pangnra Yang (she/her/hers) is a junior in the nursing program. She is also involved in a campus organization called Reeve Union Board and her role is to organize all of the major craft events for the student body. Pangnra’s recruitment strategy is rooted in building and sustaining relationships with Hmong students across campus. She has significantly contributed to the team’s recruitment process and partnership across campus.
Javit Thao
Javit Thao (he/him/his) is a UW-Oshkosh alumna with a biomedical science maajor who joined the team in November 2023. He is currently on his pre-med journey. His passion lies in psychiatry and informing and teaching others about mental health. The NSF research team provides an outlet for a fulfilling experience being able to have conversations, gain a better understanding of Hmong people culture, and validate experiences.
Seng Yeng Lee
Seng Yeng Lee (she/her/hers) is a Junior majoring in Communication studies. She just joined the team in March 2025. She hopes to help with the team and help bring more HMong student aware of this research and for others student to at least know about this project.
Alumni
Mai Neng Vang
Mai Neng Vang (she/nws/they) is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Policy Studies program at UW-Madison with a broad research interest in the educational experiences of minoritized students. More specifically, she explores how students and young people organize and respond to inequities and advocate for transformative changes. Mai Neng is currently a researcher with the HMoob American College Paj Ntaub participatory action research team through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research.
Ying Xiong
Ying Yang Youa Xiong (she/hers/nws) is a research intern at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research and has been working with The HMoob American College Paj Ntaub team since Fall of 2019. Ying is a graduate in the Applied Masters in Human Ecology program at UW-Madison. Her work focuses on community outreach and engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She is also a small business owner of Mommy Maiv Gifts LLC where she spends her free time hand-making HMoob-inspired jewelry and sourcing natural minerals.
Chee Meng Xiong
Chee Meng Xiong (he/him/his) holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education Studies with a certificate in Asian American studies (HMoob Studies emphasis) from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He currently works as a Research Intern for the HMoob American College Paj Ntaub team through the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Chee hopes that through the work of the research team that it can further help advocate for students from historically marginalized communities.
Madison Xiong
Madison Xiong (she/her) is an undergraduate student studying Global Health, Biology, and Public Policy at UW-Madison. Her goal is to improve public health through research, medicine, and community advocacy and engagement. Madison’s position on the Paj Ntaub Research Team allows her to critically analyze and address disparities in education as a social determinant of health. Alongside her work at WCER, Madison is a climate health policy researcher at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Her combined professional experiences empowers her to use policy as a tool to promote health and equity in marginalized communities.
Ariana Thao
Ariana Thao is a J.D. candidate at the DePaul University College of Law. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2020 with a degree in Political Science, and Sociology, and a certificate in Asian American Studies with a Hmong-American Emphasis. She formerly served as a diversity and inclusion specialist for the University of Wisconsin – Madison Division of Extension where she specialized in supporting projects focused on the HMoob communities of Wisconsin. During her time there, she co-authored a study focused on how public-serving institutions could better support HMoob communities linguistically and in culturally responsive practices.
Kia Vang
Kia Vang graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Creative Writing. After graduating, she published a book called, The Home We Built on 46th ST and served two years in her community with City Year Milwaukee. Currently, she is a graduate student at Marquette University with the Trinity Fellows Program and is the Education Coordinator for Milwaukee Riverkeeper.
Lena Lee
Lena Lee graduated from UW-Madison with a BA in Psychology and a certificate in Asian American Studies with a HMoob American Studies Emphasis. She is currently the Office Manager & Event Coordinator at the Office of Undergraduate Advising (OUA). Prior to OUA, she was a research intern on the “Our HMoob American College Paj Ntaub” team at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) and continues to assist the team in ways that she can. Lena is also a graduate student at the School of Education pursuing a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, with a focus on Student Affairs in Higher Education. She is a proud PEOPLE Program alum and hopes to work with marginalized groups in higher education.
Lisa Iab Yaj
Lisa Iab Yaj (she/they/nws) was a student researcher with the College Paj Ntaub research team from 2018 to 2022. She is currently in youth work as a lead teacher and dabbling in the visual art realm. She has taken many lessons from the research such as how to support HMoob students and other students of color as they survive the education system. On top of that, the stories of comradery and defiance she learned through the voices of Hmong students on campus influences the stories that shape the art she creates. She is so excited to see the many diverse stories and talents that continue to authentically mold the project.
Myxee Thao
Myxee Thao earned an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison and a Master’s degree from UW-La Crosse. Currently, she works as a TRIO educator supporting first-generation, low-income, and BIPOC students pursuing higher education. Myxee continues to labor with love in education as a result of her ongoing evolution as an activist and life-long learner.
Odyssey Xiong
Odyssey Xiong graduated from UW-Madison in the summer of 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and an Asian American Studies certificate. He is currently a financial aid counselor with Cardinal Stritch University and hopes to pursue a career in voice acting.
Pa Kou Xiong
Pa Kou Xiong (she/her/hers) is an alumna of the Paj Ntaub research team at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. She graduated from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a Psychology emphasis. Pa Kou is currently a second year graduate student and intern at Antioch University in Los Angeles, CA, pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology towards MFT and PCC licensure. Pa Kou is also a Mental Health Targeted Case Manager at Vail Place in Minnesota.
Pangzoo Lee
Pangzoo Lee graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in August of 2019 with a Bachelor of Business in Administration – Marketing. After graduation, she worked as a Marketing Assistant at Lactalis for a year. Now, she is working in admissions at the Northcentral Technical College as a Student Services & Enrollment Assistant.
Payeng Moua
Payeng Moua is a UW-Madison alumna with a B.S in HPHE and a certificate in Asian American Studies with a HMoob American Studies Emphasis. She worked to provide educational brave and safe spaces through HMoob American Studies Committee (HMASC), Niam Laus Niam Hluas Sxsterhood (NLNH), and HMoob Student Dinner UW-Madison. She’s currently a Business Analyst for CoVantage Credit Union, working to build inclusion and charitable giving to the community.
