Dr. Julia Wai-Yin So is Professor of Sociology at The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus. A native of Hong Kong, Julia lived in Japan and Ecuador for six and two years respectively before migrating to Texas in 1980. While living there, she successfully managed a $30-million privately-funded and nationally-recognized scholarship program for Dallas College. Julia joined UNM-Valencia in 2012. Julia is the Institution Lead of the Pedagogical Partnership Program at UNM-Valencia. A practitioner of inclusive pedagogy, she also consults on cultural communication codes.

A past President of the Texas Diversity Council, Julia presently sits on the Advisory Board of the American Diversity Report. She also serves as a volunteer mediator at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

Julia holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas.