Megan Tandar

Class of 2027
Major in Chemistry (concentration in Biochemistry), Minor in Asian American Diaspora Studies

I'm Meg, from Salt Lake City, Utah! Growing up in Utah with Indonesian and Cantonese-Canadian backgrounds, I was always interested in the complexities of Asian American identity and diaspora. From working in biomedical spaces where representation was lacking, to feeling the unique community dynamics of SLC's AAPI spaces, these experiences led me to my first Asian American diaspora studies class in freshman year, and later on to working with the Asian Students Association. Ultimately, I plan to pursue graduate school in the sciences and work towards introducing a more nuanced understanding of the AAPI identity. On campus, you'll find me working in Dr. Christine Eyler's radiation oncology lab, as president of the SPIRE Fellows program, teaching physics as a SAGE tutor, or going to events with the Asian Students Association. Apart from school, I love making clothes/earrings and playing in a band with my friends (check us out on @thetrench.live on Instagram)!

Favorite Class: Asian American Community History (AADS229S), taught by Dr. Calvin Cheung-Miaw! It changed the way I think about Asian American history - moving away from a lens that focused on institutionalized frameworks and systemic oppression, to one that focused on the agency of AAPI communities in shaping their own narratives and place in the US, and the power and resistance these communities held.