Raising a Worldwide Community

Get to Know Sheila Dorsey Vinton

Tell us a little bit about you and your background.

My name is Sheila Dorsey Vinton. I am the Executive Director & CEO of the Asian Community and Cultural Center here in Lincoln. I grew up on a ranch in the Panhandle, so I’ve always loved the outdoors. I got my bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University. I got my Master’s in Biological Anthropology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I studied in Peru and Chile, and that is when I found my love for other cultures. After I completed my master’s, I lived in South Korea for 4.5 years where I worked for Asian Airlines as an English language consultant and teacher. When I came back to the U.S., I was an English-Language Learner teacher for about 10 years. At the same time, I was working on my PhD studying refugee and immigrant studies, nutritional anthropology, and Sudanese immigrant work.

What are the names, ages, and interests of your kids?

I have three kids. Graham is 20, Elyse is 17, and Theo is 12. Graham is a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Elyse is a senior at Lincoln East, and Theo is a seventh grader at Lefler. All my kids love to volunteer, enjoy making music, and spend time outdoors.

In your opinion, what makes Lincoln a great place to raise kids?

There’s so much to do, and there are many inexpensive options. There are lots of parks to play at and explore, we have the Lincoln Children’s Museum for younger kids, and there’s the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. My family loved to go geocaching together all over Lincoln when our kids were younger.

What else do you love to do in Lincoln?

Now that my kids are older, we really enjoy doing outdoor activities as a family like camping, hiking, and kayaking. Some of our favorite places are Platte River State Park, Indian Cave State Park, and Wildwood Lake. We also enjoy trying restaurants as a family. One of my kids’ favorites is Saru Tea Bar for sushi and bubble tea. We also love going to Pho Factory, Bánhwich Café, Imperial Kitchen, Mr. Hui’s 2, D’Leon’s, and, of course, Taco Inn.

How has working at the Asian Community and Cultural Center impacted your family life/culture?

The kids have been involved from a very early age volunteering for activities at the Center. Now, especially as they get older, they’re more inclined to help with setup and even just to enjoy the events. My husband helps too! The family’s always helping out with Curry Clash and the Harvest Moon Festival.