About Paul Fong

Lifetime of service and fighting for better education.

Paul Fong grew up in Sunnyvale has been an educator, father, small business owner, labor leader, civil rights advocate, and California Assemblymember. He can still be found in the classroom, currently as a political science professor at San Jose State University and Foothill-De Anza and Evergreen Valley Colleges.

Paul was an all star athlete during his youth in Sunnyvale an in college. He was the All League First Team Quarterback and Co-Captain and MVP of the Football Team in 1970, and First Team All Conference Running Back at De Anza College, setting a rushing record in the process in 1971. He was the only Chinese American on the San Jose State University Football team and only the second Chinese American to play on the SJSU football team. Paul received the honor of Outstanding College Athletes of America in 1972.

Prior to being elected to the State Assembly in 2008, Paul on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees and served consecutive terms as President of the Board. In addition, he was a member of the Foothill-De Anza Foundation Board of Directors and served on the Board of the California Community Colleges Trustees.

Paul has served as President of the Executive Board for the South Bay Labor Council and President of the AFT-6157 Retirees, and the Faculty Union President, AFT-6157. He has been a labor leader and fought for our educators.

Paul is a lifelong activist for education, business, civil rights, affordable housing, and the environment. He is an avid supporter of making communities stronger through conversation and listening. He is a founding member of the Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), a community based organization that provides health services, youth programs and community service opportunities, as well as pathways for equality and social justice.

Paul holds two degrees from San Jose State University; a B.A. in Sociology and a M.P.A. He also holds a Masters in Education from the University of San Francisco. He and his wife, Grace, are owners of the Flower Cottage in Sunnyvale. Paul and Grace have three children, Sean, Nicole and Sydney.

Lifetime of Leadership
Founding Member or Founding Board Member of:
Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) (1973), The First Asian American Student Association at De Anza College (1973), West Valley Chinese Language School (1973)

Bilingual Center Asian American Services (1974), Sunnyvale Community Services Asian American component (1974), Chinese Community Center, Palo Alto, CA (1975), Juvenile Justice Commission, formerly known as Child and Adolescent Commission of Santa Clara County (1976), CETA Board City of Sunnyvale (1977-1984), Mental Health Services for Asian Americans in Santa Clara County (1978), Leadership Sunnyvale (1985), InterCultural Studies, Division Asian American Studies Dept. De Anza College (1986), Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI) (1993), Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club of the SC County Democratic Party (1996), Vision New America, formerly known as Vision 2000 (1996), ASPIRE Program of EVC (1997), Social Justice Component for Sacred Heart Community Services (2010), Bay Area High Road Transition Collaborative (2022)

Board of Directors:
Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) (1974-1994 and 2004-2014), Chinese American Citizens League (1974-76), West Valley Chinese Language School (1974-76),  Sunnyvale Community Services (1974-78), Chinese Community Center of the Peninsula (1975-81), Mental Health Advisory Board Santa Clara County (1982-1985), Leadership Sunnyvale (1984-88), De Anza College Intercultural Division Advisory Board (1980-1993), Foothill DeAnza CCD Foundation (1993-2008), Association of Community College Trustees, founder of the Asian Pacific Islander and Native American Trustees Association (APINATA) and the Tri -Caucus of Latinx Trustees and African American Trustees and APINATA (1994-2000), CA Community College Trustees Association (CCCT),  Founder of the Asian Pacific American Trustees Association and Tri-caucus of the CCCT (2002-2008), President -elect of the CCCT in 2008 when I was elected to the State Assembly, Sacred Heart Community Services (2006-2012), Home First (2014-2020), Chair of the AACI Honorary Advisory Council (2015-Present)