Priscilla Yuen is a higher education executive and global policy operations leader with more than a decade of experience advancing institutional strategy, academic operations, and international engagement across globally focused universities and policy organizations.

She serves as Assistant Dean at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where she provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for graduate programs that prepare accomplished mid-career professionals from governments, central banks, multilateral institutions, think tanks, international organizations, NGOs, foundations, and the private sector for leadership in public affairs.

Partnering closely with faculty directors and senior university leadership, Priscilla oversees academic operations, curriculum implementation, faculty engagement, student success initiatives, and cross-functional strategic projects across internationally recognized graduate programs in economic policy and global leadership. She is known for building high-performing operational systems, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and translating institutional priorities into measurable outcomes that strengthen the student experience and advance organizational effectiveness.

Her career spans internationally engaged institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia, where she has led complex academic initiatives, supported global partnerships, and managed programs serving diverse international communities. Her expertise lies at the intersection of higher education leadership, organizational strategy, and global public policy, with a focus on developing innovative educational environments that prepare leaders to address the world's most pressing challenges.

Priscilla holds a Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese.

Core competencies

Operational Leadership & Institutional Management • Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness • Academic and Administrative Operations • Global Program Management • Financial Administration & Budget Oversight • Executive Stakeholder Engagement & External Relations • International Institutional Partnerships • Systems Optimization & Operational Efficiency • Institutional Strategy & Executive Communications

Social & technological skills

• Applications + Programs:
  Mac OSX, Windows 10, Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite, Visio, Google Docs, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Prezi, Salesforce CRM, Prosperworks CRM, FormAssembly, Slate, Localist Event CMS, Eventbrite, Bedework, 25Live, Argos, Tableau, SQL, Jupyter Notebook, SPSS, PeopleSoft, Qualtrics, Concur Solutions, Asana, Slack, Keynote, Outlook, Quickbooks, SIS (Student Information System), SIS SDR (Student Desktop Reporting), Datatel Colleague, Workday, Banner, Blackboard, Canvas, CourseWorks
  

• Languages:
  English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, French

Education

• Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education Administration
  Teachers College, Columbia University in the City of New York (Sept. 2014 — May 2016)
  

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography, Minor in English Literature
  Arizona State University, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Aug. 2009 — May 2013)

Institutions of Higher Education, Nonprofit Organizations, & Partnerships