Meet the Members of our Equity Advisory Board: Nancy Yao Maasbach
Behind the Board
In our final installment of the Behind the Board series for our 2021 board members, let’s dive into our final spotlight featuring Nancy Yao Maasbach!
Today’s Highlight: Nancy Yao Maasbach President, Museum of Chinese in America
Nancy Yao Maasbach has served as the President of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) since 2015. As the President of MOCA, Nancy combines her experiences in managing organizations, knowledge of U.S.-China relations and research on redefining the American narrative. Nancy is also a lecturer on governance at the Yale School of Drama. She currently serves as an independent director for several Aberdeen Standard Investments-managed closed end funds.
Prior to her time at MOCA, Nancy was the executive director of the Yale-China Association, one of the oldest non-profit organizations dedicated to building U.S.-China relations. At the Yale-China Association, Nancy led more than 20 programs in the areas of arts, education, and health. These programs were lauded as best-in-class and models for bilateral engagement.
Nancy gained over 20 years of leadership experience at non-profit organizations and for-profit management, including staff and board positions at The Community Fund for Women & Girls, International Festival of Arts and Ideas, Tessitura Network, Council on Foreign Relations, Goldman, Sachs & Co., CNN, and Center for Finance and Research Analysis.
Nancy received her MBA from the Yale School of Management and her AB from Occidental College. She is a graduate of Hunter College High School. Nancy is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Can you briefly describe your career path and how you came to be a part of the advisory panel?
My professional journey has two strong through lines: U.S.-China relations and Asian American studies. These passions have led me to work experiences in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, including work in the policy world, investment banking, bilateral grassroots relationship building, and arts and culture. I was a Diplomacy and World Affairs major and a Theater minor at Occidental College then received my MBA from Yale School of Management.
Surprisingly, I have been able to combine all of my studies into my work today. It has been a privilege to cross sectors to do the work I care about. Many careers focus on the same sector and movements within that sector. I recognized early in my academic journey that the U.S. history taught in classrooms was narrow. I also recognized that what was presented as U.S. history provided certain students an advantage over other students, as it gave them confidence in their abilities and experiences because of heroes that look like them. As the president of the Museum of Chinese in America and former Board of Education member in the Town of Woodbridge, CT, I am able to contribute my daily efforts to broadening the American narrative. It was through these efforts that I met the amazing team at McGraw Hill. MOCA publishes a 12-page newsletter called MOCA Heroes that spotlights a Chinese American luminary or group of heroes. We shared the concept for MOCA Heroes with McGraw Hill. As we shared ideas and educational concepts, we saw in each other similar stories and connections despite our different family journeys. Joining the McGraw Hill Equity Advisory Board has given me great pride and hopefulness that we are moving forward in making significant change in the American classroom.
What do you hope you accomplish or change while being a part of the advisory panel?
It is a distinct honor to serve on the advisory panel. I hope my contributions and efforts will broaden the American narrative. I hope that my work on the panel will help students see that their stories are valued. Through this work, I hope that we might reduce our biases and create space for authentic growth.
What changes and developments do you see in the next few years?
I am hopeful. The formation of the McGraw Hill Equity Advisory Panel is a significant part of my hopefulness. MOCA sees change in funding priorities at foundations and corporations. There is a deep desire to make change and support that change. Yet, there is no more efficient way to make change than in the classroom where acceptance and confidence are essential foundational components to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to each other’s individual journey. By supporting cultural museums and cultural organizations, foundations help strengthen a critical complement to what is happening or not happening in the classroom. The combined efforts of museums, organizations, foundations, and educational corporations like McGraw Hill to make change now can improve systems. I am truly hopeful.
To learn more about Nancy:
For more on our approach to equity, inclusion, and diversity, see:
