Dr. Kim–Anh Nguyen Dang
Dr. Kim-Anh Nguyen Dang is a 7th Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon-Do Master (35 years of continuous training) and Director of Education at Grand Master Duc Dang School of Martial Arts and Education, one of the largest and most respected schools of martial arts in the country for its commitment to the philosophical underpinnings of Tae Kwon-Do not only as a sports practice, but a lifestyle. As a recent recognition of achievements and contributions, Dr. Kim received 2025 Woman of the Year Award of the 70th Assembly District.
Being a professional athlete, Dr. Kim has successfully integrated the key principles of this martial arts as the critical success factors to paving the way to resilient life within its multiple and vibrant dimensions. She positioned herself not only as a positive role model in pursuit of professional growth but also as a perseverant and goal-oriented competitor by becoming a National Forms Champion (Gold Medalist), National Weapons Champion (Gold Medalist), National Sparring Finalist (Silver Medalist) at the 2013 National Tae Kwon-Do Championships in Memphis, Tennessee. She also represented Team USA and competed at the 2013 World Tae Kwon-Do Championships in Coventry, England, coming home as a World Tae Kwon-Do Forms Champion (Gold Medalist). Apart from inspiring students being committed to the Tae Kwon-Do philosophy of professional and personal success, Dr. Kim is a veteran professional tennis player and gained profound educational background. She attained a Bachelor’s degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree from the University of Southern California (USC), and earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership (Ed.D.) degree from the University of Southern California (USC).
The teachings of Tae Kwon-Do have been the fundamentals of both Dr. Kim’s evolving professionalism and founding the educational school where the martial arts 2 principles have been interwoven into the student growth mindset and the cornerstone for being successful students and learners.
Referring to own life experiences as a student, professional athlete, instructor, trainer, master, business director, and organizational leader, Dr. Kim explicates the crucial role of Tae Kwon-Do in all these roles and achievements in both her own and her students’ lives. This Tae Kwon-Do mindset is neither mere sports nor physical strengths. This ideology implies a powerful tool to harden one’s spirit, mind, and body making them as a joint and solid mechanism capable of building that perseverance to withstand the challenges, overcome the obstacles, and her long-term practice as an instructor and educator has showed that commitment to the Tae Kwon-Do ideology would eventually lead to resilience. Regardless the hardships, injuries or demotivating experiences, Tae Kwon-Do-driven people are able to develop flexible minds and spirits, allowing pursuit of positive aspirations in future even when there are pessimistic prognoses or unfavorable circumstances in past or present.
Dr. Kim has not only maintained Tae Kwon-Do principles as the fundamentals of her belief and value system but also continuously serves as a role model in practicing them on a daily basis and sharing these practical experiences with her students, their parents, and peer colleagues. She finds this approach favorable to enhance individual and community development making such an interaction mutually beneficial for all.
