Luther College Woman's Club September 2026 meeting

Learn about the experience of one Hmong refugee family at the next meeting of
the Luther College Woman’s Club, to be held Tuesday, September 15, at 1:30 pm at Shirley Baker Commons, Baker
Village, Decorah.

Destiny Crider, Luther museum studies program director, and Rebecca Zheng, Luther senior, will present
“Exploring Identity, Life, and Loss through the Vang Family Journey from Laos to Decorah.” The presentation
uncovers the experiences of Hmong refugees through the perspective of the Vang family, who arrived in Decorah in
the late 1970s as one of the first Southeast Asian refugees to come to northeast Iowa after the Vietnam War. It
delves into the complexities of navigating life in the United States and highlights how their journey shaped their
personal values and identity. The presentation content—sourced largely from recorded interviews conducted with
Vang family members—is a synthesis of Zhang’s research collaboration with Dr. Crider, “Decorah Hmong: A Vang
Family Narrative,” in the fall semester of 2025.

Attendees are asked to contribute $6 toward refreshments.

About the presenters

Destiny Crider, Ph.D., is the manager of the Luther Anthropology Lab and Collections, curator of the Fine Arts
Collection, and instructor and director of the museum studies program. She holds a doctorate in anthropology from
Arizona State University. Crider established the Decorah Hmong and Refugee Heritage Archive following the donation of
a large collection of Hmong Pandau, textiles, and archival material. The scope of materials includes documentation of the
Decorah’s Refugee Resettlement Program from 1976 through 1994. Since 2018, Crider has collected oral histories and
recorded informational interviews with Decorah Hmong and Tai Dam refugees, their sponsors, educators, and employers.

Rebecca Zheng is majoring in anthropology and international studies at Luther. Her areas of interest include border
and migration studies, environmental science/policy, and global politics. She serves as communications team lead
for the Luther Student Senate and secretary of Luther Model United Nations, and plays violin for the Luther
Symphony Orchestra.

About the Luther College Woman’s Club

The Luther College Woman’s Club has long baked treats for Luther students, with all proceeds raised funding scholarships
for deserving students. To date, the club has raised more than $325,000 in scholarship funds. All individuals from Decorah
and surrounding communities are invited to participate. To join the LCWC and/or learn more about the group, visit
luther.edu/alumni-friends/engage/stay-connected/womans-club.