About Patricia Nguyen

Patricia understands deeply how trauma is inherited and has committed her life's work to cultivating spaces for healing and political empowerment. Equally versed in sociology, politics, and the performing arts, she has used art to heal psychic wounds and navigate across political barriers.

Growing up in Chicago, Patricia listened to stories of her parent's life before and after the war in Vietnam, where her family ultimately escaped as boat refugees to Malaysia and Indonesia and resettled in the United States in the 1980s.

After she received a B.A. in sociology from Pomona College, Patricia went to Vietnam on a journey of healing and reparation. In Vietnam, as a Fulbright Scholar, she volunteered with the Pacific Links Foundation, an international NGO, where she founded the first arts education program for survivors of sex trafficking. Navigating issues of censorship, Patricia used art as a vehicle into meaningful relationships with the women.

Currently, Patricia is pursuing her PhD in performance studies at Northwestern University. She also volunteers with Asian Human Services in Chicago, where she facilitates dance and movement workshops with refugees and immigrants facing mental health issues.