Bella Aung is a doctoral student researching the relationship between political parties and ethnic women's representation in the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) in Myanmar. Decolonizing academia and incorporating the lived experiences of indigenous and minority people into academic discourse are her ultimate goals as a researcher. Her research interests include gender and ethnic representation in North America (Canada and the United States) and Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar (Burma). She is also very passionate about gendered and racialized experiences of individuals with mental illnesses and/or disabilities in academia. She is a firm believer that strong mental health and wellness support needs to be continually accessible for marginalized academics.