Dr. Kaknika Lin is the Vice President of Growth & Development at the American University of Phnom Penh, where she blends her extensive legal expertise with a strong commitment to institutional growth and community impact. An alumna of AUPP where she graduated magna cum laude, she holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Boston University School of Law, Massachusetts, where she is the first Cambodian to graduate from BU Law. She is an admitted attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Her legal career spans work in law firms of all sizes, focusing on business law, commercial transactions, and labor and employment matters. She has also served in-house on legal teams across industries such as education, healthcare, and global fitness, including with Spartan Race, a leader in obstacle course racing.
Before assuming her current role, Dr. Lin joined AUPP to establish and lead both the institution’s Legal Department and its Business Development Department. In these critical roles, she was instrumental in building the university’s legal infrastructure and driving strategic initiatives for long-term institutional growth. In addition to her administrative and legal roles, she serves as an Adjunct Professor and Professor of Practice at AUPP and the University of Arizona, further contributing to the academic community by sharing her expertise in business law and commercial transactions.
A passionate advocate for community service, she has led community initiatives at the University, including tutoring programs for high school students in Takeo province. While in Boston, she served as a student attorney in areas such as family law, guardianship, and consumer protection, and volunteered as a tax preparer for low-income residents.