Ali
DC co-Coordinator
Hi everyone!
My name is Ali. I grew up in the white suburbs of Omaha, NE, and moved to Washington, D.C. for a job after graduating from Syracuse University in 2018 with a double major in Citizenship & Civic Engagement and
Anthropology. I also spent three semesters studying abroad in Central Europe, China and the Balkans.
My first experience with Adopteen was in 2016 when I participated on the Adoptees Giving Back Orphanage Service Trip. The trip had a profound impact on my life, and I have since served on three Leadership Committees
and as the Conference Assistant for the Minneapolis Camp-Conference. I am excited to continue my work with Adopteen and help the community grow in the D.C. area. I hope to meet you at one of the D.C. hangouts, which
will most likely include meeting new friends, good food, and exploring the most thrilling sites D.C. has to offer – and more!
E-mail: adopteendc@gmail.com
Alyse
Chicago co-Coordinator
Hi Everyone! My name is Alyse Campbell. I am a 22 year old adoptee who currently teaches and attends graduate school in Chicago. I was born in Chongqing, China and was adopted when I was 18 months old through CCAI.
Growing up, I spent most of my time in Washington state and recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English and Communications.
I started on this journey of understanding my identity as an adoptee through my experiences with mental health and reaching out to other adoptees in college. I believe that finding others that share similar experiences
can be a supportive and validating part of an adoptee's journey. As an Adopteen Coordinator, I hope to bring my passion for education and amplifying adoptee voices to the community and I am excited to bring more adoptees
together in the coming year!
E-mail: adopteenchicago@gmail.com
Anna
Atlanta Coordinator
Hey Adopteen!
My name is Anna Marianchuk! I was adopted from Guangdong Province, China in October 1998 through CCAI and have lived in Decatur, GA ever since. I'm in my 3rd year at Georgia Tech and am
studying Chemical Engineering with a minor in Spanish. At Tech, I've had the opportunity to study abroad in Madrid, research, intern, and am part of a sorority on campus. I love to eat, travel,
hike, hang out with friends and family, and meet new people!
I'm so excited to see Adopteen return to Atlanta and on a regular basis now! I've attended 5 camp-conferences and served on the leadership committee last summer for the Washington D.C.
camp-conference and am extremely excited to take on this new leadership role within Adopteen! Atlanta has a great adoptee community and I really want to see it continue to grow and develop! We
have so much fun planned for the next year! I can't wait to meet everyone!
E-mail: adopteenatlanta@gmail.com
Annelise
Seattle Coordinator
Hello! My name is Annelise. I was adopted from Guangdong Province when I was 10 months old and have lived in Seattle, Washington ever since. I recently graduated from the University of Washington with
a degree in Communications and American Ethnic/Diversity Studies. Being adopted from China has always played an important role in my shaping my identity, but it was not until college that I really began
to reach out and meet other Adoptees like myself. These relationships have helped me explore and better understand my feelings toward international adoption.
I hope that as an Adopteen coordinator I can continue to grow and enhance both community and friendship amongst adoptees in the Greater Seattle area!
Email: adopteenseattle@gmail.com
Grace
Chicago co-Coordinator
Hi!!! My name is Grace Mladenik and I am 21 years old living in the Chicagoland area! I was adopted at 11 months from Fuzhou, China in Jiangxi Province in May 1998. I graduated in Spring 2018 from the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign and majored in Agricultural and Consumer Economics with a concentration in Public Policy and Law!
I have reached out to the adoptee community after feeling a need to reconnect with a part of me that is so integral to who I am! It has been such an amazing journey to embark on. I have been grateful to meet so many people
and share experiences with one another. In turn, I feel like I have learned so much more about myself and it has been an amazingly positive experience! My two younger sisters were adopted from CCAI and I look forward to continuing
my involvement with Adopteen!
Email: adopteenchicago@gmail.com
Haha
Twin Cities Coordinator
Hello Everyone!
My name is Haha! I was adopted from Hubei Province, China in 2003 when I was two and a half years old. I grew up on a farm an hour away from the Twin Cities, MN. Now, I am attending college at Macalester in
St. Paul, MN. I have yet to pick a major, however, I'm interesting in psychology and media studies. I enjoy cooking, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.
My first Adopteen experience was in 2013 at a camp-conference and in 2015 I went on the AGBOST trip. Adopteen has been a helpful experience for me since I have been able to connect with wonderful people and
realize that I'm not alone. I excited to start the Minnesota chapter and to get to know all of you!
Email: adopteentwincities@gmail.com
Hannah
LA Coordinator
Hey Guys!
My name is Hannah! I am 24 years old and I just recently graduated from the University Of Colorado Denver with a degree in Marketing . Soon after I graduated, I moved to California
were my journey continues. My first Adopteen experience was during the summer of 09 during the Adopteen conference in Denver. Year to date I have attended 11 Adopteen conferences
and multiple Adoptee Hangouts. Adopteen has allowed me to meet other fellow adoptees and helped create the community I needed, and it has continued to be apart of my life.
I want to bring Adopteen to LA and since I am still exploring the area, please help introduce me to “Cali life!”
Email: adopteenla@gmail.com
Kristin
Philadelphia Coordinator
Hello there!
My name is Kristin! I am a domestic adoptee born and raised in Los Angeles but I currently reside in Philadelphia for college! I am college senior majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry
with a minor in Communications, and I aspire to pursue a career in medicine. During my free time I like to eat good food, travel, and search up pictures of dogs I can’t have. My first Adopteen
experience was back in 2015 in San Diego, and the first time I was a committee member was in 2017 in Wilmington, NC. I am so excited to start a chapter here in Philly and I look forward to meeting
everyone!!
Email: adopteen.philly@gmail.com
Laura
Chicago Coordinator
Greetings from Chicago!
My name is Laura Williams, and I was adopted from Nanning, China in 1997. I have graduated from DePaul University with a major in Graphic Design and minor in Hospitality. I currently work in Chicago doing both
of my favorite things: design and hospitality! I enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants, and hanging out with my family and friends.
I am excited to take on this leadership role with Adopteen as I have always been interested in my Chinese heritage and the topic of adoption. As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to help make a difference
for people like me. Like many others, I have had many barriers to overcome as a Chinese adoptee. Over the years, I have learned to embrace and appreciate who I am. I would have loved the opportunity to belong to a
group like Adopteen when I was a teenager, so I would like to bring this opportunity to other adoptees in the Chicagoland area. If you're ever in Chicago, feel free to say hi at one of our hangouts!
Email: adopteenchicago@gmail.com
Laura X
Denver Coordinator
Howdy everyone!
Laura X. Williams here! My initials also stand for the math equation for Area = Length X Width… I was adopted at seven months old from Yiwu, China and grew up in the lovely state
of New Jersey. I moved to Denver after graduating the Masters program in Cultural Sustainability from Goucher College (Baltimore, MD). Ask me about it sometime! I am super
excited to be working to amplify the collective voice of adoption!
I think adoption is an open ended story book where each and every person is a co-author and co-creator; and I try to create every day. Sometimes when I think about adoption,
I draw continuous energy from meeting and speaking with other adoptees and allies. I believe that there is a certain energy created when a bunch of adoptees get together in
the same space to share stories, see one another, and validate each other’s experiences. It is so great to be a part of something bigger than oneself!
When I am not thinking about what it means to be adopted, I love hiking, drinking tea, spending time with friends, and cuddling with my cat. I hope if you’re reading this,
our paths cross down the road!
Email: laura@adopteen.org
Phone: (303) 221-6688 x. 207
Liliana
Austin co-Coordinator
Hi everyone!
My name is Liliana! I was adopted from Guangdong in 2000 when I was one year old and raised in Houston, Texas. I now attend the University of Texas, where I study bio-medical engineering. I hope to
work in biotechnology after I graduate, so that I can utilize the precision of technology in aiding the diagnosis and treatments of various diseases. I first became involved in Adopteen through the
Camp-Conference program in 2014, and it has unquestionably shaped who I have become today. I’m super stoked to help adoptees connect and network throughout the Austin area!
Email: adopteenaustin@gmail.com
Lilly
Austin co-Coordinator
Hi everyone!
I’m Lilly! I’m a 23-year old PhD student living it up in Austin, Texas. I was adopted from Nanning in 1995. Outside of graduate school I love ballet and adventuring around with my puppy, Grant!
One of my passions is spreading the word about adoption and connecting with fellow adoptees. I am so excited to be joining the Adopteen family and cannot wait to meet you!!
Email: adopteenaustin@gmail.com
Vanessa
DC Coordinator
Hi everyone!
My name is Vanessa Shu. I live in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of our Nation's Capital, Washington, DC. I am a senior at Towson University, majoring in Elementary and
Special Education. I am VP of CEC, Council for Exceptional Children, where we educate and advocate for students with special needs by participating in fundraisers and hosting
events. I enjoy meeting people and spending time with family and friends. I'm a foodie, open to trying all foods.
My first Adopteen conference was Denver 2015; I loved it so much that I came back the next year as a committee member for Adopteen Washington, DC 2016. My positive experience
with Adopteen has led me to embrace the idea of hosting Washington, DC hangouts. I have exciting plans for our get-togethers and look forward to meeting everyone!
Email: adopteendc@gmail.com