After moving to Southern Illinois, Vanessa Wilkerson was looking for a way to meet new people and become part of her local community. That search led her to the American Mahjong community—a discovery that quickly became a lifelong passion.

Vanessa's appreciation for Mahjong began while living in South Korea from 2022 to 2025. During those three years, she had the opportunity to play and developed a deep appreciation for the game's rich history, traditions, and cultural significance throughout Asia. That experience remained with her and eventually blossomed into a love for American Mahjong.

What started as a way to make new friends soon became much more. Vanessa fell in love with the strategy and challenge of the game, but even more so with the meaningful friendships Mahjong fosters. She believes the game has a unique ability to bring people together and create lasting connections.

As an accredited American Mahjong instructor, Vanessa's greatest joy comes from introducing new players to the game. She finds it especially rewarding to watch students progress from feeling uncertain during their first lesson to confidently calling "Mah Jongg!" for the very first time.

Vanessa's teaching style is relaxed, encouraging, and designed to make learning enjoyable. She believes anyone can learn American Mahjong with the right guidance and strives to help every student feel comfortable, confident, and excited to play.

Through Mahjong, Vanessa has found an incredible community, lasting friendships, and a passion she never expected to discover. She looks forward to helping others experience that same joy while building the skills and confidence to enjoy this wonderful game for years to come.