Library Commission

Second term ending 1/30/2029

Email: lzhao@cupertino.gov

Bio: Liyan Zhao has been living in the Cupertino School District for 26 years. She is a mom of four sons, two of them having already graduated from Lynbrook, and another two are Lynbrook seniors. She is a retired software engineer for Santa Clara County, and has been involved in public serve for more than 20 years. Currently, she is the Co-President of the Asian American Parents Association and serves on the board for the Fremont Union High School Foundation.

Liyan is active writer and the founder of the popular sMagazine "Raising Kids in North America." She has written more than 100 articles sharing her experience raising kids from different perspectives. She is the co-author of three books which have been published by Tsinghua University Press and Changjiang Literature and Art Publishing House. You can find her articles published in World Journal, Sing Tao Daily, and Jing Kids.

First term ending 1/30/2027

Email: jchokshi@cupertino.gov

Bio: Janki Chokshi is an Artist by profession. She is the President of Fine Arts League of Cupertino and has been a leading Art entrepreneur and Art teacher for the past 20 years. She is involved with several community services through Cupertino Rotary.

First term ending 1/30/2027

Email: qpan@cupertino.gov

Bio: Qin Pan is a 20 year resident of Cupertino. She is data driven and hoping to collect unbiased data from the community and represent the community.

First term ending 1/30/2029

Email: mxu@cupertino.gov

Bio: Minna is a circuit design engineer who has called Cupertino home for over 10 years. A first-generation immigrant from China, she graduated from Tsinghua University before moving to Seattle to pursue her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.

As a mother of two school-aged children, Minna is deeply involved in her local schools and community. She values the beauty of our city and the excellence of its schools, and has also volunteered with various non-profit organizations, where she has forged lasting friendships along the way.

Minna has a broad range of interests, including reading, writing, art, music, and children’s activities. She is particularly passionate about special needs education and has dedicated much of her time to studying the subject. Minna remains actively engaged with the special needs community in the Bay Area, forming meaningful connections and continuously learning from others in the field.

First term ending 1/30/2029

Email: csakthivel@cupertino.gov

Bio: Chandra Sakthivel has been a resident of Cupertino for the past six years and has lived in the South Bay for over 16 years with his wife and two sons. Chandra is a software and hardware engineer at a leading semiconductor company in Silicon Valley, contributing to cutting-edge chip manufacturing. On weekends, he channels his passion for education by teaching at De Anza Language School.

Chandra is also an author, sharing insights on emerging technologies through platforms like Medium. His writings explore deep tech, innovation trends, and the intersection of AI with quantum computing. His ability to blend technical expertise with storytelling makes his work accessible to a broad audience.

Committed to community service, Chandra is honored to serve as a Library Commissioner for the City of Cupertino. He looks forward to collaborating with the city and community, acting as a bridge to connect diverse perspectives. He aims to enhance community experiences, advocate for digital wellness, and work with fellow commissioners to address digital health challenges.