Dr. Tong T. Zhang is the Assistant Dean for Inclusive Innovation in the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University. She has expertise in nonprofit and education leadership and working with organizations to create meaningful and sustained social impact across the education continuum. She was previously the executive director of Oregon MESA and she was also a founding staff member and COO of Thread, an organization providing wrap-around support to high school students in Baltimore city.
Prior to her work in non-profit education, she worked on developing immunotherapy approaches for gynecologic cancers. She has a Ph.D. in Immunology from The Johns Hopkins University-School of Medicine and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington. Tong is a first-generation American and she is a proud alumnae of North Clackamas Schools.
Dr. Zhang reflects on the importance of hands-on learning for K-12 grade students.
Hands-on learning is critical for K12 students to apply their knowledge into practice. Much of education is still focused very much on theory and not as much on translation to real world phenomena. Especially for students who are English language learners or are from underserved backgrounds, theory can be much less approachable than hands-on learning. As an immigrant, who often struggled with dense terminology, I knew that it was the case for me and hands-on, project-based learning was much easier for me to understand and engage with. Hands-on learning helps prepare students not just for more education but for life after K12, including higher education and careers. We need to inspire children early on so they understand that what they learn has an impact for the future.
Dr. Zhang on what this award means to her.
Without the ASE program, I would have never considered scientific research or academia as potential careers. I had only applied to the program because I wanted a summer job, not knowing what it would bring me next. The internship gave me confidence, practice in data analysis, presentation skills, my first experience staying in college dorms, and a mentor who cared... all experiences I know were formative to my identity as a scientist. This is a full circle moment for me because my work now is to help generations of students experience the type of opportunity I received at a young age.
Join us in celebrating Tong and the future of innovative education on Friday, May 16, 2025.
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