Ying Dai brings a rich background in storytelling, research, and community-centered communications to her role as Content Manager at Phīla. She draws on experience in journalism, social justice education, and nonprofit operations to help shape Phīla’s digital voice and thought leadership. Ying excels in developing content strategy, writing for multiple platforms, and managing our visual assets.
Prior to joining Phīla, Ying supported research and editorial efforts at Northwestern University and helped advance community-centered grantmaking at Crossroad Funds and many grassroot community-based organizations. She is a detail-driven bilingual writer and editor with a critical multicultural perspective. Experienced in academic writing, critical analysis, public communication, and journalistic writing, Ying is dedicated to creating effective and accessible communication for diverse audiences.
She is also a skilled photographer and an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a passion for using visual storytelling to explore identity and belonging. Ying holds a BA from Northwestern University where she studied Journalism and Asian American Studies and an MA in Gender and Women’s Studies from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Ying lives in Chicago with her cat chichi and her ever-growing plant collection. She enjoys reading, live performance, cooking for loved ones, and spending time next to large bodies of water.
