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The Tech Celebrates AANHPI Month
May 1, 2025
Highlighting STEAM leaders
- Related Topics:
- STEM,
- Tech Partners,
- In the Community,
- Education
May marks an important time to celebrate the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It is a time to honor the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and significant impact that individuals from these communities have made in shaping American society. This month we’re highlighting the work of four STEAM innovators who have made noteworthy contributions in various ways.
Learn about the lives and work of these STEAM leaders highlighted for AANHPI month and try out some of the activities we have paired with each profile!
Erin Jerri Malonzo Pañgilinan
Erin is a leading voice in STEAM spanning a career across the industries of technology, entertainment, and civic engagement. For over 8 years, she has worked as a software engineer and computational designer, educator, and author at the intersection of spatial computing, AI, and web development. She is currently working on writing her next books, and creating her next apps and TV/films: including writing her next technical book and course for software engineers developing native and cross-platform spatial computing apps and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Erin is an internationally acclaimed author, publishing Book Authority’s #2 must-read books on Virtual Reality in 2019, O’Reilly Media book, Creating Augmented and Virtual Realities: Theory and Practice for Next-Generation of Spatial Computing, which has been translated into Chinese, Korean, and distributed in over 2 dozen countries.
Erin was selected for tech and entrepreneurial fellowships including: Amazon Web Services (AWS) CTO Fellowship (2022), GitCoin Kernel (2021), Alley (Verizon Ventures - 2019), Meta/Facebook’s Oculus Launch Pad (2018). She was also previously a fellow in the University of San Francisco (USF) Data Institute’s Deep Learning Program (2017-2018) and Data Ethics Inaugural Class (2020) through fast.ai.
For over a decade, Erin has been a sought-out advocate serving numerous non-profit organization boards. In 2015, she founded Filipinx Americans in STEAM - Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (FASTER), where she serves as National Board President. She previously co-founded and advised ARVR Academy, serving women and underrepresented communities in the AR VR industry, and serves as an adviser to the Silicon Valley Ice Skating Association (SVISA).
Erin earned her BA degree from University of California, Berkeley.
Learn more about FASTER (Filipinx Americans in Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics) at faster-steam.
Bertrand “Patron” Paule
Patron is the CEO of Illuminate SJ Now!!! and is dedicated to blending art with technology. As Visual Developer, he leads a team who creates large scale projection mapping in Downtown San Jose— on buildings like McEnery Convention Center, Valley Title Building, San Jose Museum of Art, and more. The primary goal is to create a permanent network of illuminated installations downtown using AI and traditional art. The Illuminate SJ Now!!! team has lit up hundreds of events at places like Culture Night Market, San Jose Jazz, and Level Up Barcade. They also worked on an immersive art installation with Chopstick Alley Art last year called Under One Moon.
Patron studied animation illustration at SJSU and started off as a freelance illustration, animation, and pre-production creative. Beginning with pencil drawings and later turning to projection mapping was the creative journey Patron experienced. Now he uses AI along with old animation and traditional editing techniques and describes this artistic style as his new superpower whereby he can now fly. His visions are more clear, and describes them as only getting better as AI systems continue to develop. He is able to create optical illusions that were not manageable before on a small scale budget.
Check out some of his work:
Illuminate SJ Now!!! Avenida De Altares 2024 _ San Jose. CA
Illuminate SJ Now!!! Coda Summit - San Jose Museum of Art 2023
Illuminate SJ Now!!! Serpentine - Valley Title 2023
Illuminate SJ Now!!! Creativity 4 Life 2024
Learn more about Patron at illuminatesjnow.com.
Kyla Zhao
Kyla is a Stanford University '21 alumni, and now a Silicon Valley tech professional by day and an author by night. Her novels center women and girls of color navigating traditionally male-dominated spaces like Silicon Valley and competitive chess—while exploring themes of identity, ambition, and belonging. She has published three books with Penguin Random House, and her fourth is forthcoming in 2026.
Some of Kyla’s works include:
- Valley Verified, her latest adult novel which is set in the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley startups and explores gender dynamics and hustle culture in tech.
- May the Best Player Win, her newest middle grade novel that stars a female chess prodigy and delves into themes of logical thinking, performance pressure, and resilience. It was recently:
- Named a Mathical Award Honor Book, a national prize celebrating books that inspire a love for STEM
- Selected for the American Library Association’s Feminist Book Project
- Chosen as the April 2025 book club pick for the Scripps National Spelling Bee
In addition, Kyla has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, a Tatler Leader of Tomorrow, and received a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Assembly for advancing Asian representation in media. Her books have been featured by CBS, NBC, ABC, Vogue, Elle, Good Morning America, and more.
Beyond writing, Kyla has also spoken at companies and schools like Pinterest, Twitch, Oracle, Harvard, and Figma about media representation, DEI, and storytelling as a tool for change.
Learn more about Kyla’s work at kylazhao.com/ or follow her on Instagram @kylajzhao.
Isabella Aiona Abbott, Ph.D
In 1950, at age 31, Dr. Abbott made history at the University of California, Berkeley by becoming the first Native Hawaiian woman to earn a doctorate in a scientific field. Later on she became both the first female professor and the first non-white professor in the Stanford Biology Department. During her tenure at Stanford, Dr. Abbot authored 8 books and over 150 articles focused on algae along the Pacific coast. Her work explored “limu,” the Hawaiian term for seaweed- an ingredient often included in traditional Hawaiian recipes. By blending her academic expertise with her native Hawaiian heritage, she became the world’s leading expert on marine algae.
Dr. Abbott was dedicated to preserving indigenous knowledge and highlighted the significance of oral histories. She worked closely with Hawaiian elders to ensure traditional knowledge of marine resources was preserved.
In 1997, Dr. Abbott was honored with the Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal, the National Academy of Sciences' most prestigious award in marine botany. She was also recognized as a Living Treasure of Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Abbott’s work at https://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/first-lady-of-limu/ and https://www.pbshawaii.org/long-story-short-with-leslie-wilcox-isabella-aiona-abbott/.
Explore the properties of algae in our classic biotinkering activity, Algae String.
This AANHPI month serves as a reminder of the ongoing work we must do to ensure inclusion, equity, and representation for all marginalized groups.
Here’s how we can take action:
- Support AANHPI-Owned Businesses: AANHPI entrepreneurs play a pivotal role in shaping local economies and culture. Support their businesses, whether through purchasing products, hiring services, or promoting them within your networks.
- Amplify AANHPI Voices: Share stories, books, films, and art by AANHPI creators. Engage with the work of AANHPI activists, artists, writers, and educators to give visibility to their contributions.
- Advocate for Policy Change: In the face of increasing hate and discrimination, advocacy is crucial. Speak out against anti-AANHPI hate and support initiatives that protect and uplift AANHPI communities. This could include lobbying for legislative change or joining local organizations that fight for racial justice.
- Promote Inclusivity in Your Own Communities: Whether at work, school, or in your neighborhood, ensure that AANHPI individuals are included, represented, and respected. Challenge discrimination and bias when you see it, and strive to create inclusive environments for everyone.
Let’s work together to ensure that AANHPI communities are recognized, celebrated, and empowered, not just for one month, but all year round. The South Bay Creative and Cultural Learning Community (CCLC) is one way The Tech Interactive is improving cultural belonging. The CCLC brings together diverse community members as thought partners to create fun, engaging, and culturally relevant experiences. During these gatherings, members contribute ideas to new hands-on STEAM activities to help create more inclusive spaces and experiences throughout our public facing work.
Curious about learning more or getting involved? Email us at WeAreListening@thetech.org