Did you know that May is Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific (AANHPI) Heritage Month? It is an “annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.”

See related: ”Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month”

According to the 2019 Census Bureau population estimate, there are 18.9 million Asian Americans, alone, living in the United States, accounting for 5.7 percent of the nation’s population. Asian Americans invest in higher education, with nearly 56% of us earning at least a bachelor’s degree.

See related: US Government Health and Human Services Asian American Population Profile 

About the NIRSA Asian Community Caucus

The Asian Community Caucus is a part of NIRSA’s commitment to engage in conversations related to social and political justice, to embrace all levels of experiences, and to unite NIRSA members who identify as Asian. This caucus is intended as a space for the Asian community to come together for discussion, recreation, and representation.

The caucus is built on three principal values: 1) Community Building, 2) Outreach & Activism, and 3) Professional Development.

Caucus Leadership Team

2022-2023 Year-in-Review

Our monthly meetings are designed to be in alignment with our values. The following topics and themes were explored during this past leadership year:

  • October 2022: Filipino American History Month
  • November 2022: Bystander Intervention Workshop facilitated by Kevin George & Maria Lauron-Ramos
  • January 2023: Lunar New Year + “What’s the BEST thing that CAN happen?”
  • February 2023: Rec Day + celebrating different identities (ex. Black History Month, Heart Health Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, etc.)
  • March 2023: In-person Meeting at Pittsburgh!
  • April 2023: Stress Awareness Month + #CommunityCare

Moving Forward in 2023 and into 2024

As a leadership team, we are looking to synergize with the other NIRSA Caucuses to provide opportunities for NIRSA members to learn that our identities are intersectional.

“It is vital as Asian-Americans to support social justice initiatives and wellbeing groups to advocate for health, wellbeing, sense of belonging, and progress in supporting all underserved communities.”

Join us for the Asian Community Caucus – Asian Professionals in Higher Ed Panel on Tuesday, May 16th at 1:00pm Eastern/10:00am Pacific.

Want to know more about what it is like to navigate working in higher education as someone who identifies as Asian? Listen to the stories of various leaders in athletics, academics, and student affairs professionals, who will share their career journey. Panelists will share their successes and some of the challenges they’ve faced in their personal and professional lives through the intersectionality of their various identities.

The online event will be facilitated by NIRSA Asian Caucus Leaders: Kevin George & Maria Lauron-Ramos.

Register for the May 16 caucus

Panelists/Speakers

  • Vicky Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Yale Athletics – Yale University
  • Nicholas Hartlep, Robert Charles Billings Endowed Chair & Education Studies Department Chair: Berea College
  • Smita Ruzicka,Vice President of Student Affairs – Middlebury College
  • Connie Tingston Gatuz, Associate Vice President for Student Development, Learning, and Social Change Education – University of Michigan
  • If you are interested in highlighting your campus or a NIRSA member’s achievements on your campus, pitch us your ideas.
NIRSA Profile

Maria Lauron-Ramos is currently Coordinator of Campus Recreation, Marketing/Staff Development at Princeton University; you can email her at mlauronramos@princeton.edu.