Dr. Chu May Paing (she/they)
Executive Director
paing@winlit.org

A first-generation immigrant from Myanmar, Dr. Chu brings lived experience and deep insight into how language and literacy shape the immigrant experience. In 2019, she was selected as one of 2,000 National Science Foundation Research Fellows nationwide, recognized for her anthropological research with Myanmar political activists in Thailand, US, and France. 

Fluent in both Burmese and English, Dr. Chu finds beauty in language and words. Short stories are her chosen form of expression. Her debut essay collection in Burmese, Beyond the Wall of Words, was published in 2024 by Pin Yai/Yerba Press. Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served on the WALC Board and volunteers as a tutor. 

When she’s not reading, writing, or cooking for others, she enjoys playing fetch with her shih-poo, Poquito. 

What does literacy mean to you?

Literacy, to me, is not merely the ability to read and write; it is the fundamental human right–the right to express oneself, to access knowledge, and to engage fully in the world. It is the right to have a voice of our own, rather than to be spoken for. 

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