The Junior League of Philadelphia held its annual May celebration at The Bellevue Hotel on May 20, commemorating a year of hard work. During the event, the new board of directors was announced, including president Pam Phojanakong. (Credit: JLP) BMO CAT
Pam Phojanakong, the Junior League of Philadelphia’s first Asian president, said she’s someone who likes to solve problems.
“If you put a puzzle in front of me, I am apt to sink my teeth into it,” Phojanakong said. “And in fact, I've been known to chew on a problem until all the plate work is gone.”
Phojanakong, who was announced as JLP’s 2025–26 president in late May, now leads a chapter of nearly 900 members serving Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, as well as parts of South Jersey. The chapter is one of nearly 300 Junior Leagues across the country.
The Junior League's mission is to advance women’s leadership through community engagement, volunteer work and collaboration. Though Phojanakong said she could spend hours discussing everything the league does, from volunteering at community gardens to improving food access for families.
“It’s really humbling and quite an honor to be placed in charge of the vision of the league,” Phojanakong said. “Because we're all about developing women to be leaders in their community and effect lasting change.”
As a first-generation American and the league's first diversity, equity and inclusion chair, Phojanakong said she wants to continue making the league as welcoming as possible for all members.
During the May celebration, Phojanakong gave a few words praising the "diverse, dedicated, and passionate" community of JLP and expressing her excitement for the upcoming recruitment season, which began June 1. (Credit: JLP)Phojanakong, who learned English as a second language, said she often felt different growing up. Her name stood out on attendance rosters, and like many first-generation Americans, she was used to feeling “othered.”
Despite feeling dissimilar during her education, Phojanakong said becoming a part of the Junior League gave her a chance to integrate herself into a community of women.
“I think for me personally, to serve as the head of an organization that's been around for almost 115 years,” Phojanakong said. “It's kind of like the ultimate acceptance or integration, that you really feel like you're a part of something after feeling a little bit removed from growing up.”
She said after reaching a milestone as the league’s first Asian president, she’s excited to see new milestones in future years, as the league continues to become more diverse.
As president, Phojanakong aims to expand leadership and diversity training for members. She says spotlighting diverse, women-owned businesses will help foster a more inclusive and well-rounded community.
Phojanakong is also eager to support longstanding initiatives, particularly the Junior League Thrift Shop in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, which offers everything from ceramics to fur coats. She said she hopes to create a positive experience for both shoppers and volunteers, who she believes should be recognized for their dedication and hard work.
With over 125,000 members globally, Junior League provides a network of women who support one another, in what Phojanakong calls a “third space.” Unlike home or work life, a third space offers engagement without obligation or pressure.
“It's something that I do strictly for me,” Phojanakong said. “One of the great ways to express that is in helping make the town that you live in a better place, but also hopefully making space for other women to learn, connect and grow themselves.”
Phojanakong (right) said she found a sense of community and friendships within JLP, which she hopes she can help provide to future members. (Credit: JLP)Phojanakong said the league supported her through some of her toughest times, including while earning her doctorate in epidemiology, and now she hopes to return the favor to new members seeking that same sense of community.
There are several summer interest meetings and recruiting events where women can meet and talk to current members. All events, including an upcoming dog food drive hosted by Phojanakong, can be found on JLP’s website or social media.
Phojanakong said she originally joined the Junior League to find friendship, and her community has only grown since. She jokes that, as an epidemiologist by training, working alongside people from various professions sometimes feels like the setup to a “a rabbi and a baseball player walk into a bar…” joke.
“Joining the Junior League is a chance to dig in and try new things you’ve never done before, and meet people you wouldn’t otherwise meet,” she said. “Sometimes you have a stay-at-home mom, a lawyer, and an epidemiologist all in the same meeting.”
