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About Us
An immersive simulation of the entire employment journey, from initial application to workplace integration, led by experienced HR professionals and academic experts.
about
About Virtuous Sea
Virtuous Sea Corp is a California-registered nonprofit organization, incorporated in January 2022 (Document #4832499). Our mission is to support Chinese international students in the United States through community, education, and research.
We believe every Chinese student who comes to America deserves honest information, a welcoming community, and real resources — to help them make the best decisions for their education, career, and life.
We believe every Chinese student who comes to America deserves honest information, a welcoming community, and real resources — to help them make the best decisions for their education, career, and life.
2022
2024
2025
2026
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VSC incorporated in California. Launched community campfire events in partnership with Campfire Harmony, helping Chinese students experience American culture. Over 50 events held to date.
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Signed exclusive China regional agency with Advantage School International (ASI). Partnered with Global Harmony Academy to offer Chinese students accredited U.S. high school diplomas and ASU online college courses.
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Expanded into university partnerships. Signed five-year MOU with Avila University (signed by VP Dr. Andrew Vogel). Began supporting U.S. universities in expanding China recruitment.
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Launched 2026 Employment White Paper research project. Conducting employer interviews and student surveys to help Chinese international students understand the U.S. job market and make informed decisions about their futures.
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Ya Gao
Board Chair & Co-Founder
Chinese-American philanthropist and international education advocate based in Bellevue, Washington. Born in Shanghai and educated across China and Canada, Ms. Gao brings a deeply global perspective shaped by multicultural experience. After achieving success as an early-stage investor, she devoted herself to philanthropy and founded Virtuous Sea with the mission of empowering mobility and advancing educational equity. She has led multiple cross-border inclusive education initiatives and remains committed to removing systemic barriers while building a global talent collaboration network.
Lucas Zhao
Founder & Director
Chinese-American entrepreneur and financial strategist with experience spanning U.S. military service, finance, and international education. A former member of the U.S. Navy Special Forces, Mr. Zhao later held senior management roles in large-scale U.S. investment and real estate projects and became a certified high-net-worth wealth and inheritance planner with AXA France. He has managed over USD 50 million in cross-border assets and founded China's first Ten-Year Integrated International Education Program. At Virtuous Sea, he leads financial strategy, operations, and global partnerships.
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Dr. Barbara Zá Franks, Ed.D.
Chief Research Officer
Dr. Barbara Zá Franks is an international educator with over 17 years of experience across the Caribbean, China, Africa, and the United States. She spent 11 years in China in senior academic leadership roles including Chief Academic Officer and Regional Dean. She holds an Ed.D. in Leadership. At VSC, she leads the 2026 Employment White Paper research project.
Emily Dearmas
Industry Research Consultant
Emily Dearmas holds a Master's degree from the University of Central Florida and brings over 20 years of HR and recruiting experience to VSC. She leads the employer interview program for the 2026 White Paper, conducting in-depth interviews with HR professionals at U.S. companies of all sizes.
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Kimberly Beebe, MAIS, MAT
University Partnership Consultant
Kimberly Beebe is a Professor of Communication Studies at Lower Columbia College in Washington. She holds a Master of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Teaching. At VSC, she leads university outreach — building relationships with Career Centers and International Student Offices across the country.
Jeffrey Wang, MBA
China-U.S. Career Research Fellow
Jeffrey Wang holds an MBA from Yale School of Management and is fluent in both Mandarin and English. He contributes original research on career pathways for Chinese international students in both the U.S. and China, and serves as a bridge between VSC's research team and Chinese academic and professional communities.
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Karen Perez
M.E.d
Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Consultant. With a Master’s in Educational Leadership and experience as a Senior Education Executive and HR leader, she specializes in professional presence, behavioral interview mastery, and leadership communication. She coaches emerging professionals to demonstrate confidence, executive maturity, and cultural fluency in U.S. workplaces, and helps translate their academic or international experience into leadership-ready narratives to impress hiring decision-makers and support long-term career growth.
Aimee Sample
M.E.d
Founder of Shades of Grey HR | Strategic Career & Talent Advisor. With over 25 years of corporate HR and executive leadership experience, she has deep insight into how U.S. organizations evaluate, select, and promote talent. As a senior-level HR consulting firm founder, she has reviewed thousands of resumes and understands the assessment standards of applicant tracking systems, behavioral interviews, and leadership panels. She helps early-career and internationally educated professionals stand out in the U.S. job market through creative positioning, differentiated resume strategy, and compelling storytelling.
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Brenda Koehn
SHRM-CP, PHR
Senior HR Compliance & Talent Strategy Consultant. With over 25 years of HR experience across recruitment, multi-state employment law, and full-cycle hiring, she holds SHRM-CP and PHR certifications. She has a deep understanding of credential verification, compliance review, and hiring decision standards. Her coaching is detail-oriented and grounded in real-world standards; she specializes in resume architecture and credential alignment, helping candidates ensure their qualifications can withstand employer scrutiny and present themselves confidently in the U.S. market
Heather Evans
Do you want a LinkedIn profile that actually gets you noticed — and contacted — by recruiters? I specialize in LinkedIn optimization and recruiter visibility strategy, helping students turn their experience into profiles that generate real traction. With 15+ years in career coaching and workforce development — and as an active recruiter — I know exactly how hiring managers search, filter, and evaluate candidates. I’ve built and delivered multiple LinkedIn and career courses, including one taught to 20k students, and I translate that insight into practical, personalized guidance that works.
Before launching FindLev LLC, I served as Director of Operations for a workforce collaborative supporting high-demand career pathways, overseeing $3M+ in workforce investments and performance reporting. I also managed a career center serving ~5K individuals annually, connecting them to jobs and critical resources. Overall, my experience allows me to help you position yourself strategically in today’s competitive market.
Before launching FindLev LLC, I served as Director of Operations for a workforce collaborative supporting high-demand career pathways, overseeing $3M+ in workforce investments and performance reporting. I also managed a career center serving ~5K individuals annually, connecting them to jobs and critical resources. Overall, my experience allows me to help you position yourself strategically in today’s competitive market.
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