Janiene Ming Thiong

Janiene Ming Thiong is a Senior Policy Analyst at the University of California’s Office of the President, where she leads the Advancing Faculty Diversity (AFD) program. In her role, Janiene manages a systemwide grant that provides funding to UC faculty committed to advancing diversity efforts. She ensures effective program management, maintains the AFD program’s online presence, and develops essential program guidelines and reports. 

Born in Los Angeles and raised on the East Coast, Janiene’s diverse background has significantly shaped her career. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Women’s Studies with a specialization in Third World Politics from Spelman College and a Master’s in Africana Studies from New York University. Her professional experience includes a notable tenure as the Graduate Programs Administrator at NYU’s Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, where she managed admissions, fellowships, and student success initiatives. 

Earlier in her career, Janiene served as a Public Policy Manager at Planned Parenthood Southeast in Atlanta, where she developed strategies to boost support for reproductive health, built partnerships with local universities and businesses, and led statewide outreach efforts. 

As an Afro-Asian scholar, Janiene’s research interests are deeply rooted in archiving her Chinese-Haitian ancestry. This personal and academic passion began with informal family interviews, which fueled her lifelong commitment to cultural storytelling and historical preservation.