Ms. Yang graduated from Barnard College—Columbia University in 1988 (Dean’s List).  She subsequently obtained a Juris Doctorate from Washington University Law School in 1995.

Ms. Yang currently serves as the Deputy Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations, a position she has held since February of 2006.  In this capacity, she has managerial responsibility for the office and staff of the Mission, including budgetary oversight and management of the extensive internship program.  Ms. Yang also represents the Republic of Palau at meetings including at the negotiations for the resolution for Oceans and Law of the Sea, and Sustainable Fisheries.

Previous Assignments:

• January 2005 – February 2006:  Legal Council to the Vice President (Koror, Palau).  Ms. Yang was the primary legal council for the Vice President and provided policy and legislative advice.  Ms. Yang also served as the Vice President’s representative on the Fisheries Policy Advisory Committee and the Counter-terrorism Task Force.
• From 2002 - 2005, Ms. Yang served in the Office of the Attorney General.  During her time with the Attorney General’s office Ms. Yang supervised many watershed cases including the first criminal prosecution of a vessel for shark fining.  She also represented the Republic in the Orientex litigation.  In 2003, President Remengesau, Jr. appointed Ms. Yang Acting Attorney General for the Republic.
• Ms. Yang began her legal career as a prosecutor for the Queens County District Attorney’s office where she specialized in wire taps and prosecutions involving special victims.  Ms. Yang moved on after the D.A.’s office to clerking for a New York State Supreme Court judge.