About us
Yukong Mike Zhao
Chair
Yukong Mike Zhao is the president of the Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE), a nationally recognized advocate for meritocracy and a survivor of communist China’s Cultural Revolution.
During that turbulent era, Zhao’s family endured political persecution, extreme poverty, and profound personal loss. In 1992, he immigrated to the United States, escaping communism and pursuing the American Dream. Through hard work and perseverance, he rose to become Director of Global Planning at Siemens Energy and built a fulfilling life with his family in Orlando, Florida.
Drawing from his firsthand experience with authoritarianism, Zhao authored Critical Race Theory and Woke Culture: America’s Dangerous Repeat of China’s Cultural Revolution. He has also contributed opinion pieces to National Review, The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, Orange County Register, and other outlets, defending the U.S. Constitution and speaking out against socialism, Critical Race Theory, and radical progressive ideologies.
Since realizing his American Dream, Zhao has been a leading voice against anti-Asian discrimination in college admissions. Under his leadership, AACE mobilized Asian American communities beginning in 2014 to support Students for Fair Admissions in its legal challenges against Harvard and the University of North Carolina. These efforts culminated in the landmark Supreme Court decision in June 2023, which struck down race-based Affirmative Action policies. Zhao testified before Congress in September 2023 about the significance of this ruling, and his leadership was featured by The Wall Street Journal in 2015.
Frank Xu
Co-Chair / Principal Officer
Since 2013, Frank Xu has actively engaged in California politics and policy advocacy. Frank cofounded several influential state and local organizations, namely the San Diego Asian Americans for Equality (SDAAFE), the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER), PUSD Community Watch (PCW) and more. All these organizations have proven track records of defending equal rights for all Californians (including Californians of Chinese descent). They have launched a succession of effective and successful initiatives which has uplifted the voice and reputation of the Chinese community. As the State Finance Chair of the triumphant “No on 16” initiative which helped resolutely defeat the race-preferential Proposition 16, Frank has in-depth and unique experience in launching, organizing and leading political campaigns. In 2022, Frank ran for the Palomar College Board, winning over 50% of the votes from independent voters. In 2024, the San Diego Parents for Education PAC, cofounded by Frank, campaigned for pro-education school board candidates and helped two candidates win.
Frank Xu自2013年以来长期参与加州政治，已成立了圣地亚哥亚裔平权会(SDAAFE)、Californians for Equal Rights Foundation、PUSD Community Watch等社区组织，并一直都在健康运行，在这过程中一直致力于维护加州所有人（包括华人）平等权益、提升华人社区形象。Frank Xu有丰富的选战经验，2020年作为State Finance Chair帮助加州选民打败了Prop. 16，2022年自己参与了Palomar College Board选举，赢得了超过一半中间选民的选票，2024年成立的San Diego Parents for Education PAC成功帮助两位候选人赢得竞选。