Wentong Helen Niu, Faculty Administrator
September 27, 2024 - Inauguration of Jonathan D. Levin, Stanford's 13th President.
What I Do
I support some of the most amazing faculty and their groups, such as Professors Howard Zebker, David Tse, Amin Arbabian, and also Emeritus Professors John Cioffi, Leonid Kazovsky, and Umran Inan.
Origins
I am originally from Beijing, China, and I arrived in the Bay Area in 1997 with my son since my husband was working here. I graduated from the Dalian University of Finance and Economics in China. My career journey was straightforward back then: After I graduated from university, I was assigned to the finance department of an investment company that invests in and manages China’s automobile industry, which was directly under the Ministry of Machinery Industry in China. During my time in the financial department, I started by doing basic accounting and financial work. I also managed the financial portion of the projects that we invested in in China’s automobile industry. I visited many automobile manufacturing companies in China and learned about the production process of automobiles and the state of the automobile industry. I loved my job and worked my way up — I was an assistant accountant, accountant, senior accountant, financial director, and then CFO when I relocated to the Bay Area.
Then, I started my life in Fremont, California. I started learning English at an adult school, starting with the most basic class, learning my ABCs from scratch. Learning English was essential for everyday tasks, whether it was buying the right milk at the grocery store or obtaining my driver’s license. I still remember that during my DMV road test, I had only learned a few English words at that time: “right turn, left turn, stop …” However, I luckily passed the test on the first try and got my driver’s license. After completing English classes at the adult school, I continued English classes at a community college. There, I was also working toward another degree in finance and also started my MBA classes.
In 2001, I was lucky enough to start working at Stanford’s EE department. Having grown up in a family of teachers and on a school campus, I was ecstatic to be back in education. I supported Professors Umran Inan, Leonard Tyler, and Howard Zebker’s group at the STAR Lab on the third floor of the Packard Building. In 2008, I moved to Palo Alto with my family, and my daughter started school at Nixon Elementary School.
My EExperience
I am fortunate to be a member of the EE Department here at Stanford. The working environment is amazing, and I get to be among great people every day, from the faculty to the students to my colleagues. Everyone in the department is friendly and collaborative, always eager to help each other which makes my work much more enjoyable and smooth. Working here, I have not only improved my professional skills in English, but I have also learned how to communicate and collaborate with people in a multicultural environment, which has broadened my horizons. I have learned a lot from these great people, hearing about everyone’s experiences, diverse perspectives of thinking, and positive attitudes. It’s an understatement to say that everyone here is my teacher as they have helped me grow continuously and become better. I truly love working with such talented people and supportive coworkers, as well as watching the students grow from their first day at Stanford to graduation, achieving a great milestone in their lives.
Outside of Work
I spend my free time hiking the trails along Shoreline and the Stanford Dish with friends. When my daughter comes home to visit from college, I enjoy binge-watching TV shows with her and trying her experimental college meals.
Favorite Spot
My favorite spot is Jane Stanford Way near the Oval, where I frequently like to stroll and people-watch the students coming and going on their bicycles or on foot. I love being among their youthful energy, and this street is the perfect place to do that. Off-campus, my favorite spot is Shoreline in Mountain View.
Evening on Jane Stanford Way
Frost Amphitheater
Autumn Colors - on the way to the office from Bowdoin St. to Campus Dr.