As an intern with Assura Public Relations in Anaheim, Jesse Cheng undertakes creative advocacy on behalf of minority-owned small businesses. Proactive in his position, Jesse Cheng focuses his efforts on local government agencies, and employs traditional and digital media, as well as direct lobbying campaigns.

Issues Mr. Cheng addresses include municipal services and land use, as well as region-wide arts and cultural partnerships. Since 2011, he has additionally served as public affairs chair with the Orange County chapter of the OCA (formerly Organization of Chinese Americans).

Completing his BA in Asian American Studies at the University of California, Irvine, Mr. Cheng took on responsibilities as student regent from 2009 to 2011. As fiduciary trustee, he was the only voting student member within the Board of Regents, which governs the University of California system.

Among Mr. Cheng’s accomplishments at UC Irvine was enacting reform that improved transparency concerning the student fee structure and institutionalized the system’s diversity commitment. He also mobilized more than 10,000 families, students, and workers across the state against higher education tuition increases and state disinvestment efforts.