Kimiko Vang has experienced a breadth of perspectives, spanning multiple continents and cultures. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, she spent her early years in France before migrating with her family to the United States, where they settled in Merced County.
Vang recalls the challenges her family faced upon their arrival.
“There was quite a bit of culture shock coming to Merced from France,” she said. “People here are a lot more welcoming than what I was accustomed to in France. The language barrier was also difficult for my family to overcome.”
Despite these obstacles, Vang ultimately thrived in her new home and excelled in her education. She graduated from Merced High School and Merced College, then earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in social work from Stanislaus State before earning a doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California.
Years of hard work and dedication to helping others while building a solid career in social work at Merced County paid off for Vang last January when she was promoted to director of the county’s Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.
Early in her career, Vang’s commitment and skill set led her to secure a role as a social worker in child welfare for Merced County, where she supported families dealing with issues such as domestic abuse, substance abuse and mental health concerns that posed a threat to children.
Her exceptional performance in this position earned her the role of supervising social worker in 2008. In 2015, she was promoted to deputy director for the Merced County Human Services Agency.
Looking back to the 1990s when she was a student at Merced College, Vang is reminded of the educational and professional journey she took to get to where she is today.
Vang didn’t start her college years with a focus on social work. Instead, she earned a degree in chemistry at Merced College before transferring to Stanislaus State to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology. However, after her first semester, she decided to change majors and switched to sociology.
“After my first semester, I realized biology was not for me. I ended up taking a job on the weekends working in a group home with foster youth,” she said. “I found a passion for helping people solve their problems and the experience pushed me to choose social work as my career.”
Vang’s dedication to helping others stems from her own personal experiences, which have given her a deep sense of empathy and understanding for people facing similar difficulties. Having overcome her own challenges, she is now driven to use her experiences to uplift and support others in need.
“I see myself in many of the individuals and families we are trying to serve,” she said. “Many of the issues they face can be alleviated, and I see it as my life’s mission to support these people, as others supported me when I needed help.”
Her commitment grew stronger after completing her master's degree in social work at Stan State in 2003.
“I learned a lot during my time in the Master of Social Work program. One of the most important skills I learned was collaboration,” said Vang, who returned to Stan State as a part-time lecturer in 2021. “In social work, you can’t work in a silo, that’s not how things get accomplished. We must work together to understand the problem and find the solution. That is what I want my students to understand about this profession.”
Vang stepped into the role as a faculty member because she wanted to inspire and support students who share her passion and guide them toward a fulfilling career in social work. She aims to offer students a comprehensive understanding of the profession, from its day-to-day tasks to the bigger picture of social work as a whole.
“I love social work and I want to continue giving back to the profession, as well as supporting the students,” Vang said. “I want to challenge them to help them understand and analyze the situation they may find themselves in.”
She encourages students to explore the many different areas that social work encompasses. An extensive and dynamic field, social work offers a multitude of opportunities to make a positive impact in people's lives.
“You may discover there is a specific area you would like to contribute to,” she tells her students. “Schools, medical facilities, prisons and mental health facilities are always looking for social workers to help. Do the research, talk to current social workers and figure out which one is right for you.”
