Yale Day of Service is excited to welcome Dr. Xiaoyan Huang ’91 as the next alumni Chair for one of the Yale Alumni Association’s signature annual programs. Xiaoyan is the immediate past-chair of the YAA Board of Governors, and a longtime volunteer leader with both Day of Service and the Yale Alumni Service Corps (YASC).
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Xiaoyan is a cardiologist by training and a “super volunteer” by choice. Her seemingly endless energy for community organizing and alumni engagement has led her to leadership roles with the Yale Club of Oregon & Southwest Washington and YaleWomen, and she is one of the founding members of the Yale Alumni Facebook group, which now hosts more than 22,000 members.
As to why she is eager to embark on yet another service leadership role for Yale’s alumni community, Xiaoyan recalls her first alumni volunteer experience with YASC: A trip to China in 2011. “Service was what first brought me back into the Yale fold after graduation, and service with fellow Yale alumni over the years has enriched my life with deep friendship and personal growth. Working with smart, creative, kind and generous Yalies has taught me important leadership skills which I can in turn apply in my own professional life.”
Xiaoyan’s approach to program development is usually a blend of creativity and innovation with consistency and dedication. Never a stranger to “doing the work,” Xiaoyan has developed concepts for engaging alumni volunteers, such as YAA delegates, who had never previously had a community after attending Assembly each November. Her online “meetup” series is now a regular part of the YAA Board’s delegate engagement activities each spring. In addition, Xiaoyan is known among friends for her witty humor and social organizing skills, making her alumni network full of community-oriented Yalies.
Alison Cole ‘99, executive director of the YAA expressed her excitement for Xiaoyan taking on this role.
“I am thrilled that Xiaoyan has accepted the Day of Service Chair role. From my first day at the YAA, she has shared her wisdom, enthusiasm, and kindness,” Cole said. “Her devotion to Yale and the alumni community will help us bring this program to new heights. I am confident she, our staff, and our regional chairs will partner to increase engagement, accessibility, and participation.”
In considering the job at hand, Xiaoyan is ready to go. She has already begun meeting with Day of Service leaders, and will be prepared to kick off the project season in early 2026 with the theme “For Service, For Friendship, For Community.”
The 2026 Yale Day of Service is set for May 9, however, the YAA encourages groups to gather at a time that works best for the volunteers and organizations in their local communities. Further details will be available at yaledayofservice.org after the new year.
Xiaoyan’s message to all Yale alumni?
“I hope to see a record-breaking number of you leading and participating in a project near you on May 9th (or other days), 2026!”
