Wayne Cheung is the tech lead for Campus Life Services at UCSF, as well as the founder of a technology nonprofit that serves a small Nepalese village in the Himalayan foothills. He recently shared insights into his role and what inspires him in the UCSF Financial and Administrative Services’ “One Good Thing” blog.
Tell us about your role at UCSF.
I have 13 years of experience in digital solutions at UCSF. I currently serve as the tech lead for Campus Life Services and head up our digital accessibility efforts. I’ve mentored business analysts and managed cross-functional teams on various projects, such as the UCSF Mobile App. One fun fact: Before I joined UCSF, I was part of the team that built the big Coca-Cola bottle slide at the Giant’s Oracle Park.
I participated in the UCSF Technology Leadership Development Program and learned so much from my mentors as I connected with people throughout UCSF. I realized mentoring is a two-way street, and that mentors and mentees both learn a lot from such relationships. Since then, I have started, both informally and formally, getting involved in mentoring at UCSF. I also had the privilege to participate in the Campus Life Services Leadership Development Program, and now I am supporting expanded mentoring offerings in Campus Life Services.
What drives you to help others?
I was in a terrible car accident about 20 years ago. A drunk driver hit me, and I went to San Francisco General Hospital. I was in the hospital for three months, with four years of rehab. I’m thankful that UCSF doctors and nurses saved my life, and being able to walk again has inspired me to give back.
Tell us about the non-profit you started.
About 18 years ago, I witnessed the poverty and challenges people face every day in Nakote, a very small village in the Himalayan foothills. In 2007, I started a non-profit called Nepal Education Initiative Organization (NEIO) to promote education for Nepalese children and the community. I believe in the power of education, and I wanted to bring hope and opportunity to people in the region.
NEIO began by partnering with the local communities to build four schools. Since then, our support has expanded to at least a dozen schools and more than a thousand students have benefited from our program. We help with teacher and student sponsorship programs and innovations like eco-toilets and bio-gas energy systems. We build libraries; partner with Bay Area tech companies to bring technology, such as projectors and laptops, into schools; and support local educators so they can reach more students.
NEIO has an incredible team, and we all play our part in making things happen. This is not my area of expertise — and I couldn’t do this without the help of local communities, donors and hundreds of volunteers around the world.
In 2017, I was honored to receive UCSF’s Chancellor Award for Public Service in recognition of this work. I feel lucky to be able to work for UCSF, which provides a great work-life balance that allows me to use my personal time for this cause.