Nengher N. Vang

With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, community activism, and entrepreneurship, I have held a wide range of roles, including academic advisor, director of multicultural centers, professor, nonprofit board member, and—most centrally—real estate investor and entrepreneur. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Davidson College, a master’s degree in Theology from the Iliff School of Theology, a master’s degree in Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Minnesota.

For nearly fifteen years, I worked in higher education as a teacher, writer, and public speaker, focusing on Hmong American history, immigration, war, and peace. My scholarly work has appeared in Social Movements, Amerasia, and the Hmong Studies Journal, and I am currently completing a book project on the history of the Hmong struggle for an independent nation.

Alongside my academic career, I have built a portfolio of duplexes and multifamily properties and, in 2024, founded The Mekong—one of the largest Hmong-owned businesses in Dane County, Wisconsin. Drawing on this diverse background, I bring a deep, integrated understanding of Hmong history and culture, business development, organizational leadership, staff recruitment and management, and the practical realities of small business and real estate operations.