Maychee Mua

Autism policy innovator | Cultural bridge builder | Healing-centered leader

Maychee Mua is reimagining autism advocacy through a deeply personal, culturally attuned lens. A first-generation Hmong Chinese American and the daughter of refugee parents who survived genocide and unimaginable hardship, Maychee channels her ancestral legacy of resilience into systems change. As one of the first people who worked with a team in 2015 to implement Minnesota’s Medicaid autism program for children under 21, she has built trust across diverse communities and dismantled systemic barriers with empathy, persistence and cultural insight. 

When her own children were diagnosed with autism, she encountered stigma and silence in her community. Rather than retreat, she turned that pain into purpose. She helped her team develop the state’s first cultural competency training for autism providers, created multilingual educational materials and elevated the voices of autistic individuals and families. Maychee is described by others as a visionary who leads with purpose, humility and joy, and her autism advocacy has earned local and national recognition. She has a unique ability to bridge cultures and turn complex policy into human-centered solutions. She delivers tangible, lasting change and mentors others to do the same.

With the Bush Fellowship, Maychee will deepen her leadership by reconnecting with her cultural roots, building a holistic healing framework and designing culturally tailored resources that bridge Southeast Asian traditions with Western systems of care. 

What life experiences have most shaped your leadership?

My identity is woven through multiple roles—daughter, granddaughter, sibling, wife and mother to neurodivergent children. These roles have shaped my life experience, worldview and leadership style. The resilience and perseverance instilled by my community and background guide me in professional leadership, allowing me to tap into unique life lessons. Leadership is a pledge to personal growth and lifelong learning.

What change are you working to create?

I want to establish culturally appropriate ways of embracing and working through ancestral trauma and integrating traditional healing practices to empower individuals and families to access autism support. I plan to shift perceptions from stigma to celebration by focusing on the unique strengths of autistic individuals. I want to lead the work by creating a holistic approach that interconnects mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health.