MEET THE 2022 - 2023 MANAGEMENT ASSISTANTS
AUBRI QIAN, MPP
Aubri Qian (she/her) is a current 2022-2023 Management Assistant, rotating through the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach, the City Manager’s office, the Budget Office, and the Long Beach Police Department.
Aubri holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. Her studies focused on the intersection of arts, race and placemaking, with a specific focus on data visualization, mapmaking, and storytelling as practice for social equity. Prior to obtaining her graduate degree, Aubri served as a Program Manager with Equality California, where she managed LGBTQ+ leadership programs, transgender justice initiatives, and mental health outreach. Her work at Equality California provided the opportunity to meet and collaborate from LGBTQ+ civil servants and elected officials and inspired a growing passion for local government. Aubri began her career working in the advertising industry, as a human resources generalist focused on diversity and inclusion programs at Digitas NY.
Aubri earned her B.S. in Organizational Behavior and Marketing from New York University. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, crafting, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and cheering for her hometown soccer team, the Portland Thorns.
BRENDA SORIANO-VILLA, MPP
brenda.soriano-villa@longbeach.gov
Brenda Soriano-Villa (she/ella) is a current 2022-2023 Management Assistant, rotating through the Department of Financial Management – Budget Office, Financial Management – Business Licensing, City Manager’s office, and Human Resources.
Brenda graduated from Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, receiving her Master of Public Policy. During her graduate school tenure, she interned at the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program where she assisted with research on community colleges in rural America. Brenda served as Secretary General for Harris Student Government and Treasurer of the Association of Latinx Students for Social Justice during her time at Harris. Prior to becoming a Management Assistant, she was Assistant Community School Director at the Community Development YMCA of Greater Long Beach where she co-implemented and designed a full-service community school model focused on providing wrap-around services for family and community members in Central Long Beach.
Brenda was born, raised, and educated in Long Beach. Her passion for community engagement, mental wellbeing, and language access translates into her work and approach to civic engagement and education. In her free time, Brenda enjoys a cup of coffee at local shops, roller skating through local parks, and participating in community events.
SYDNEY THOMPSON, MPP
Sydney Thompson (she/her) is a current 2022-2023 Management Assistant. She is rotating through the City Manager’s Equity Team, Ethics Team, and Recovery Office; Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department; Technology & Innovation Department’s Business Information Services Bureau; and the Budget Office.
Sydney obtained her Master of Public Policy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. She focused her studies in several areas including social determinants of health, sustainability and livability, climate change policy, and local government performance. While at the Ford School, Sydney helped develop a policy recommendation report to address Michigan resident food insecurity for the Michigan Governor’s Food Security Council.
Sydney discovered her passion for local government working for the City of Detroit during graduate school. She supported implementing Recovery Act programs and improving data collection and sharing practices. Her primary project included redesigning and expanding the Community Health Corps program that provided case management services to support Detroit residents.
Prior to attending graduate school, Sydney managed social determinants of health-related computer software projects at, a healthcare software organization. She also completed various research projects on local economic development in her home state, Michigan. Sydney earned her B.A. in Economics and Food Systems at the University of Michigan. In her free time, Sydney enjoys sailing, rock climbing, cooking, and exploring Long Beach.
