Institute Founding Board President Releases Memoir
"I'm Not Who You Think I Am:
An Asian American ​Woman's Political Journey"

Maeley Tom holds the unique distinction of breaking the glass ceiling twice in both houses in the California State Legislature and earned the nickname as the "political godmother" of the API community because of her dynamic leadership.

Now retired, Maeley wrote a book to share the positive sides of her struggles in climbing the political ladder, self-knowledge and sacrifices, as well as share heartfelt advice to the next generation of policymakers. 
About the Book 

This book is both a memoir and a political history. It is the personal story of an Asian American woman’s journey from political neophyte to seasoned insider, the first to reach the top of an all-male, nearly all-white power elite in the California capitol. And it is the story of a political movement’s coming of age, founded in California, but leading all the way to Washington, D.C. and beyond.

This is a story of a life well-led, with hard-fought gains and deeply-felt sacrifices; a story of painful struggles for professional recognition, self-knowledge, and personal fulfillment; a story of the rewarding, but often harsh, intersection of the personal and the political. Throughout, the story illuminates Maeley’s inner strength and steadfast commitment to principles.

Read more here