IWF Houston Chapter

Y Ping Sun

Happy Birthday Y Ping Sun!

Ping is a Representative of Rice University and of Counsel at Yetter Coleman LLP.   A native of Shanghai, China, Ping attended school in Beijing and received a full scholarship to Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with an AB degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.  She received a law degree from Columbia University School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Journal of Transnational Law.  Ping practiced law in the New York offices of White & Case LLP and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, where her practice focused on corporate and cross border issues. In Houston, Ping is of counsel with the law firm of Yetter Coleman LLP, a boutique litigation firm with offices in Houston and Austin.

Ping came to Houston from New York City in 2004, when her husband David W. Leebron became Rice University's seventh president. As University Representative, Ping is fully engaged with the community both on and off campus.  Ping has many roles: Member of the advisory board of Rice’s Shepherd School of Music and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research; and honorary co-chair of Rice’s Baker Institute Roundtable.  She also hosts a luncheon series called “Something New for Lunch at Rice University,” which brings Rice faculty members together with civic leaders. 

She is a trustee of Texas Children's Hospital and a board member of the Asia Society, Texas Center, St. John’s School and the United Way of Greater Houston. She also serves on the advisory boards of Asian Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Community Center, Houston Arts Alliance, Julia Ideson Library Preservation Partners, and the Mayor’s International Trade and Development Council for Asia/Australia. Ping is also a director of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.and is an alum of Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Forum .  

Ping’s community service has been recognized by several organizations: In 2010-Teach For America;  International Executives of the Year (along with her husband) by the Greater Houston Partnership and 50 Most Influential Women of 2010.  In 2011: Texas China Distinguished Leader in Education Award, the Asian American Leadership Award from Asia Society Texas Center, and Woman on the Move by Texas Executive Women. In 2012 she was an ABC Channel 13 Woman of Distinction.  

Ping and David have two children, Daniel, 16, and Merissa, 13.