John Yang

John Yang (Johnnie) is a doctoral researcher in the Higher Education & Organizational Change program at UCLA whose work examines holistic wellbeing on college campuses, particularly among students of color. His mixed-methods dissertation combines quantitative survey development with qualitative journal reflections from a yoga-based freshman seminar that he designed and taught to better understand holistic wellbeing. With over ten years of teaching experience across K-16 contexts and over three years as a Graduate Student Researcher at the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), Johnnie has published peer-reviewed work in the International Journal of Educational Reform, Journal of Homosexuality, and New Directions for Higher Education. His broader research interests include race/ethnicity, queer student experiences, rural student access, Hmong American identity, Asian American voices, and leadership in higher education. A certified yoga instructor, Johnnie also integrates yoga and mindfulness practices into campus spaces to promote health, equity, and wellbeing.