Dawn Lin, a new member of the Southwest Management District board of directors, works as an attorney at a Houston title insurance company, helping Houstonians realize their dreams of home ownership and building wealth through real estate investment.
In 2009, Congressman Al Green gave a nod to Lin, calling her “the mother of the Confucius revolution” after she successfully promoted legislation to commemorate the 2,560th anniversary of Confucius’ birth and recognize his invaluable contributions to world philosophy.
She shared her thoughts about her new board position, her family, and the long list of hobbies she enjoys. Here’s what she had to say:
Q: What is your “day job?”
A: I’m a fee attorney for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, which provides real estate closing and settlement services.
Q: What about your educational and career background?
A: In school, I started off as a computer major, then pivoted to law and got my law degree. After that, I opened my own law firm, which focused on immigration and corporate law. In the early 2000s, Congressman Green asked me to be his community liaison, so I did that on and off for a few years as well.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your family. Where did you grow up?
A: I’m married to Dr. Michael Rea, who’s a biology professor at the University of Houston. I have a daughter, a son, a granddaughter and a dog. I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. I came to the U.S. in 1980 on a student visa, and I’ve been in southwest Houston since 1983.
Q: Why were you interested in serving on the board?
A: I feel like I can make a difference by contributing my time and talent. Service is in my blood. I’ve been actively engaged in various community organizations for the last 30-plus years, including the Houston Asian Junior Chamber of Commerce (recently renamed as the Houston International Jaycees), the Global Federation of Chinese Businesses Women, Houston Children’s Chorus, the KNOWAutism Foundation, and the Houston chapter of the Asian Real Estate Association of America.
Q: How do you use your background and skills as a member of the management district board?
A: I’m a long-time resident and a working professional in the Southwest Management District. I’ve built strong relationships with many community leaders, local businesses, and government officials. I would like to bring together the stakeholders to better understand and address the needs of both businesses and individuals in the district.
Q: What makes this management district so special?
A: I’ve been here for such a long time that I feel like this is my neighborhood, and I’m very proud that we have a diverse, beautiful, and what I think is the best, eating area in the entire city. I liken the experience of visiting the Chinatown area of Houston as traveling to the Far East, but they accept American dollars.
Q: What are you hoping to learn from serving on the management district board?
A: I’m fortunate to serve with our well-seasoned, experienced, and dedicated board of directors, and I’m hoping to better understand and utilize funding opportunities to promote businesses in the district.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish from serving on the board?
A: I’d like to help build up the Southwest Management District as a household name and encourage existing and new organizations, businesses and individual partnerships within the district.
Q: What are some of your interests and hobbies?
A: I love to travel, garden, sing, dance, hike and I always enjoy brewing and drinking a good cup of tea.
Q: Are you on any other boards of community or professional organizations?
A: I’m on the Houston Mayor’s AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Advisory Board, and I’m also the Asian Real Estate Association of America Houston Chapter Chairwoman Emeritus.
