Bio


Chali Lee (he/him/any) is a queer, Hmong-American artist-scholar from Fresno, CA, dedicated to advancing scholarship and social change for marginalized communities. As a transfer student from community college to Stanford, Chali specializes in social sciences and humanities, focusing on political science, ethnic studies, and gender/sexuality studies. As a researcher and filmmaker, he explores queer Hmong epistemology, indigeneity, ghosts and hauntings, Hmong spirituality and cosmology, spiritual drag, and historical reimagination through the arts.

His thesis received the Asian American Undergraduate Research Award and the Award of Excellence in Honors Thesis Presentation at Stanford. His work has also been presented at key conferences, including the Association for Asian American Studies Conference and the Hmong Studies Consortium. Chali’s research draws from and significantly contributes to fields such as Asian American Studies, Queer of Color Critique, Critical Refugee Studies, and Critical Hmong Studies.

In his free time, Chali enjoys choreographing dances, putting together outfits, vlogging outings, learning about cultures, and writing poetry.

Education & Certifications


  • B.A.H., Stanford University, Political Science (2024)