Born and raised in San José, Noemi Teppang has dedicated herself to people-centered service. As a community organizer, she has worked closely with various grassroots Filipino organizations in the South Bay focusing on the rights and welfare of Filipino families. During her time at SJSU, Noemi joined Akbayan, SJSU’s Filpino student organization, and served as its community affairs co-chair and president. She holds a B.A. in social sciences with a minor in Asian American Studies and completed her M.A. in social work with a concentration in mental health. She continues to volunteer with Malaya South Bay, focusing on advocacy for human rights in the Philippines. Currently, she works as a tenured faculty counselor at De Anza College.