The Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) was established on November 19, 2001, by The City University of New York (CUNY) Board of Trustees, in a resolution introduced by Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. The Institute is a university-wide scholarly research and resource center that focuses on policies and issues that affect Asians and Asian Americans. It covers four areas: Asian American Studies; East Asian Studies; South Asian Studies; and Trade & Technology Studies.
Our Mission
The City University of New York, with 25 institutions city-wide, is rich in faculty who have expertise in Asian and Asian American studies. As of Fall 2022, CUNY enrolled over 46,246 (23.5%) Asian or Pacific Islander undergraduate and 5,663 (19.6%) graduate students who will soon emerge as a vital segment of New York City’s workforce and leadership. As of Fall 2022, Asian, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders represent over 6,194 (14.8%) faculty and staff at CUNY.
The Asian American / Asian Research Institute seeks to achieve the following:
- to be an Asian intellectual and cultural center that addresses the needs of New York’s diverse ethnic subgroups of Asian origin
- to be a respected authority regionally, nationally, and internationally, on issues concerning Asia, and the Asian American community
- to stimulate the study of Asian people, languages, cultures, and countries as well as Asian immigrants and their descendants who live in the U.S.
- to bring together a community of scholars and channel their scholarship and research energies on Asia and the Asian American experience
- to identify timely issues that affect the Asian and Asian American communities
- to conduct scholarly, unbiased studies impacting policy and community concerns
- to disseminate its research results and educate the public about Asian and Asian American issues
- to serve as a bridge between CUNY, and the Asian American community
Our Accomplishments
- Established a weekly public lecture series featuring over 300 topics
- Produced conferences on topics including Asian American Leadership: Healing and Rebuilding New York after 9/11; Education: Challenges & Perspectives; Global Entrepreneurship: Economic Development for Asia and the U.S.; South Asians and the Diaspora; The Well-Being of Asian American Senior Citizens; Caribbean Asians: The Journey Continues; Asian American Women: Celebrating Successes, Meeting Challenges; Redefining Asian America in the 21st Century; Pipeline Politics: Civic Engagement Toward Social Change; The Power of Place: Asian American Neighborhoods, Politics & Activism Today; Taking the “Lead” in Leadership – How NYC’s 2009 Elections Has Shaped Asian American Civic Participation; CUNY FORUM: Advancing Asian American Studies @ CUNY and APA Communities; Rethinking New York City’s Asian American Communities; Asian American Leadership at CUNY and in Higher Education; Resurgent Realities: East Coast Asian American Studies; Building Coalitions & Coalescing a Pan-Asian/Pacific/American Identity; Leading Women: Political and Civic Engagement; The Weight We Carry: Navigating Family, Culture & Personal Agency; Citizenship, Belonging, and Identity in the Age of White Nationalism; and Asian American Studies across CUNY: Reflections, Connections, Futures
- Produced CUNY Bulletin of Asian American / Asian Affairs, Vol. 1 – 6
- Produced CUNY FORUM: Asian American / Asian Studies, Vol. 1 – 10
- Received grants/awards including from the New York City Council; New York State Assembly/Senate; CUNY Diversity Projects Development Fund; CUNY Black, Race and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI); Verizon Foundation; and Ford Foundation
- Provided funding for research proposals by six CUNY faculty members
- Established a community forum for Asian organizations to conduct outreach
- Offered workshops on Chinese Calligraphy and Painting; Tai Chi; & Asian Civilizations: Exploration of the Chinese Mind; and Dharma
- Established an Asian cinema series during the summer and winter sessions
- Produced a website featuring streaming video and audio podcast of activities
- Established the CUNY-wide Asian American Film Festival
- Established the CUNY Ethics and Morality Essay Contest
- Established the CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship
- Established the AAARI/Dr. Thomas Tam Visiting Professorship in Asian American and Asian Studies
- Established the Betty Lee Sung Research Endowment Award in Asian American Studies
Plans for the Future
We envision the Asian American / Asian Research Institute to be a financially well-endowed organization, and respected authority regionally, nationally, and internationally on issues concerning Asia, and the Asian American community. It will continue to be a non-partisan research institution and a pan-Asian intellectual and cultural center that addresses the needs of New York’s diverse subgroups of Asian origin, and a bridge between the City University of New York, and the Asian American community.
- Collaborate and provide research opportunities for faculty, with a particular emphasis on new faculty
- Provide research opportunities for students on Asian American and Asian affairs
- Establish professional development opportunities for Asian American faculty and staff, including leadership in higher education
AAARI Board
Chairperson
TBD
Vice-Chairperson
TBD
Treasurer
TBD
Secretary
TBD
Board Members
Francisco Delgado
Assistant Professor of English, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Sandie Han
Dean of the School of Science & Allied Health, Megar Evers College
Caitlin Ho
Program Director, Hunter College AANAPISI Project (HCAP), Hunter College
Caroline K. Hong
Associate Professor of English, Queens College
Chaumtoli Huq
Associate Professor of Law, CUNY School of Law
Ellen Lai
Social Media Director, Office of Communications & Marketing, City University of New York
Trang M. Le-Chan
Director, Alumni Engagement and Development, NYC College of Technology
Catherine Ma
Professor of Psychology, Kingsborough Community College
Ann Matsuuchi
Instructional Technology Librarian (Professor), LaGuardia Community College
Soniya Munshi
Associate Professor, Urban Studies & Director, Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, Queens College
Lili Shi
Professor of Communication Studies, Kingsborough Community College
Linta Varghese
Associate Professor of Asian American/Asian Studies, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Honorary Members
Betty Lee Sung, Professor Emerita, City College of New York
Community Resources
Edward Ma
Administrative Staff
Yung-Yi Diana Pan
Interim Executive Director
Antony Wong
Program Coordinator
Assistant Editor, CUNY FORUM
William Tam
College Assistant
Zhu-Hui Wu
College Assistant
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Russell C. Leong
Editor, CUNY FORUM