Meet Mony Chau, one of the newest members of the College of Education team! You may just be getting to know him as the department coordinator in Counseling and School Psychology (CSP), but did you know he’s also a movie buff, health enthusiast and defiantly-awful singer? Find out more about Mony in this edition of 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Faculty and Staff!
1. Mony is a first-generation college student
Both his parents are from the border region of Cambodia and Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1980s. He is the youngest child of five and originally from Long Beach, Calif. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master of public health in health
management and policy — both from SDSU (Go Aztecs!).
2. Mony is a Gates Millennium Scholar
The Gates Millennium Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship that paid for both his bachelor’s and master’s. In the future, Mony also has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree and receive funding. He credits a huge part of his success to the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program.
3. Mony loves dogs
In fact, to say Mony loves dogs is an understatement. He has two he adores, Lyla and Penny. Lyla is a buff 60-pound pitbull and Penny is a lanky 40-pound border collie mix. Fun fact: both Lyla and Penny LOVE broccoli, carrots and spinach stems.
4. Mony is a health enthusiast
With a kinesiology degree and curiosity of the human body, Mony is always trying to keep his health a top priority with consistent exercise and healthy eating. Although he likes to indulge in the occasional cheat meal, he makes sure it’s well earned.
5. Mony is a frequent freestyler
While he admits to being an awful singer, he doesn’t let that stop him. Mony is constantly rewriting words to a song to fit a joke, current event or thought in his mind. He never writes it down but somehow, the words and lyrics come straight to his mind. His partner is always trying to catch him on video but Mony says that she isn’t slick enough.
6. Mony is a writer in his free time
What he writes about can vary but he’s been told that his words can be very powerful and have far reach. He doesn’t consider himself a
professional or amateur — just someone who likes to express himself through words.
7. Mony is a movie aficionado
An AMC A-list member, he will always watch new movies when they come out. Don’t ask him about any movies that came out before he was born but you can ask him about all of his favorite Marvel movies.
How Mony is making a difference in the College of Education:
“‘Lead by example’ has been my mantra for my entire life. After watching my mom work so hard, day and night, providing for her family, I knew that I had to do the same for others. She showed me what a strong person looks like. Through hard work, passion and leadership, I am making a difference in the COE by being an example of what these three things can get you. From the streets of Long Beach to a desk in my office, you can achieve anything regardless of what life has thrown your way.”
