Philanthropy reignited
When Angel Chen evacuated her Altadena home during the devastating Eaton wildfire in January 2025, she never expected the experience would rekindle her connection with UC Irvine, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics in 1999. While staying in Irvine, a friendly invitation brought Chen back to campus. There, she forged new friendships, fostered meaningful business relationships, and emerged as a rising leader among School of Social Sciences alumni.
“I’ve found a sense of community at UC Irvine now even more so than when I was a student,” Chen says. “I feel really fortunate to be a graduate of the School of Social Sciences. So many people I encounter who are top-notch both in my field and other fields are from UC Irvine, and they have created such purposeful, meaningful lives.”
Chen has built a career out of helping people build impactful lives. As managing director in Deutsche Bank Wealth Management's Family Office Practice, Chen has more than 25 years of experience helping ultra-high-net-worth individuals finance business ventures, manage investments and plan strategic philanthropy.
Hers is a story of hard work and bold choices in pursuit of the American dream, shaped by her UC Irvine education. “UC Irvine profoundly shaped both my life and career,” says Chen. “It gave me an opportunity to become who I am.”
American dream
Chen was just 14 years old when her parents sent her from their home in Taipei, Taiwan to Orange County to live with an elderly aunt.
“As you could imagine, being a young teenage girl trying to navigate a new culture while dealing with the challenges of adolescence was quite overwhelming,” Chen says. “I did what I had to do: worked hard in high school, tutored my peers in math to improve my language skills, volunteered on the school sports team, completed all the extra credit assignments given by teachers, and took all the honors classes I could.
“I was a good and humble student pursuing the American dream, aiming for the North Star,” she adds.
Believing she had diligently met or surpassed all the qualifications for admission to the University of California, Chen was blindsided to discover that her Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) results – a requirement because she was on a student visa – would not be ready in time for fall enrollment. Determined not to delay her education, she drove from campus to campus meeting with academic counselors. She left each one feeling dejected. But she kept going.
Finally, at UC Irvine, a counselor listened carefully to her story and offered her a solution: succeed in an undergraduate writing class over the summer, and she could start school in the fall as an Anteater. Although she doesn’t remember the name of the counselor, she thinks of them often as a “lighthouse keeper,” guiding and encouraging her to keep going, even amid uncertainty.
Chen majored in economics with a minor in management, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a successful financial consultant in Taiwan. The lessons she took with her when she graduated, though, extended beyond academics.
“UC Irvine’s School of Social Sciences gave me more than an academic foundation; it taught me how to think critically, understand complex systems, and appreciate the human stories behind data, policy, and markets,” says Chen. “My time at UCI sharpened my global perspective, strengthened my analytical discipline, and guided me to a deep sense of responsibility to give back. The values, mentorship, and intellectual rigor I experienced there continue to guide the way I lead, serve, and build meaningful relationships in my professional and personal life.”
Trusted advisor
Chen’s career took off almost immediately after she graduated. Her Chinese-language skills were in demand as Orange County’s high-net-worth immigrant community sought out private banking services. She accepted her first job at Citibank and started building a reputation for excellence that would eventually make her an industry leader. While working full time, she earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She held roles at Union Bank and City National Bank before joining Deutsche Bank in 2019. Some of Chen’s clients have been with her for more than two decades, and she has been at their side as children grew up and assumed control of the family’s enterprise.
As a wealth manager, Chen works closely with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, hedge fund principals and high-level corporate executives. Many of her clients are on their way to becoming billionaires, and seek her help financing complex real estate transactions, raising venture capital, preserving their wealth and planning their legacies. In this rarified air of private jets and fine dining, Chen is a trusted advisor.
“My life is so dynamic. But what I appreciate is not the extravagance of people’s lives, but how their journeys brought them there,” Chen explains. “The key is learning about their pathway to success; understanding them and earning their trust comes first. Then we get to the finance.”
Lighthouse keeper
For Chen, giving back to the community has always been paramount. She serves on the board of the Pasadena Symphony, Asian Community Foundation, The Blue Ribbon of the Music Center, and she is an active member of the Asian Women Leadership Philanthropy Fund.
“I’m a very strong supporter of women, especially minority women. Working moms have accelerated the advancement of our whole society,” says Chen. “The challenge with that is that sometimes women are competitive instead of supporting one another to make the world a better place – together.”
It was the co-chair of Asian Women Leadership in Philanthropy Fund, Carol Choi, who reached out to Chen as a mentor and a friend during the Altadena wildfire in 2025. Choi, who is also an alumna and a trustee of the UC Irvine Foundation, invited Chen to the School of Social Science’s annual Lunar New Year Celebration that February. Since Chen was staying in Irvine, it was the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with the campus – and to introduce her soon to be a teenage son to the school, as well.
She was blown away by the experience. “I was so proud and impressed by the school,” Chen says. “There is so much loyalty and engagement among the alumni.”
Chen’s house sits on one of the few streets undestroyed by the Eaton fire, though many surrounding neighbors were not so lucky. Her family has returned home, trying to resume life as usual. But her renewed connection to UC Irvine is only growing stronger.
Chen facilitated Deutsche Bank becoming a sponsor of the School of Social Sciences Economic Forum – where, once again, she was impressed by all the alumni and business leaders who took time out of their busy schedules to participate in the event, network with each other, and work together to support the school and future students. Chen eventually joined the Dean’s Leadership Society and the Board of Councilors, which she finds both personally and professionally rewarding.
“I enjoy every aspect of my involvement with the UCI School of Social Sciences,” she says. “I remain deeply grateful to the School of Social Sciences for preparing me not only for a successful career, but for a purposeful one.”
As Chen continues rising in her banking career, she also remains focused on giving back to UC Irvine and other community organizations, with a focus on music and supporting women and girls.
“My proudest accomplishment is being educated and empowered to give back to various communities,” Chen says. “It is incredibly fulfilling to leverage my experiences and resources to support and uplift others. Now, it is my turn to serve as the lighthouse keeper.”
-Christine Byrd for the UC Irvine School of Social Sciences