Recently launched in Fall 2024, the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program (ASAP) is already making its mark on campus. The program supports AANHPI students from recruitment through graduation by building community & belonging at SSU, providing personal support from their mentorship program, and connecting classroom learning to real-world change.
“ASAP is such a unique program because it is a collaborative effort between faculty and student affairs to ensure that students feel connected to their heritage, history, and the larger AANHPI community that has fought for opportunity and equality and to increase representation and belonging for AANHPI students,” says Monica Ng, ASAP Program Director. In addition to serving as program director, Ng works with two student assistants, Leighann Pring and Kayla Xiong Vang.
ASAP offers Asian American Studies (AAS) courses, a mentorship program, co-curricular & community building programs, and fun events on campus. The ASAP Lecture Series is co-sponsored with the Women and Gender Studies (WGS) Department and provides students with opportunities to meet with leaders from the AANHPI community. The next lecture will feature a Smithsonian curator on Apr. 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Stevenson 1201. ASAP meets weekly on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the DREAM Center for Bayan Belonging, a time for students to have fun together and build community-building skills. Additionally, the ASAP Learning Community meets every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the DREAM Center to connect Asian American Studies concepts to personal experiences and current events.
When asked about her goals for the program, Ng states, “I’d like to see the AANHPI student enrollment increase so that current and prospective students can see how AANHPI students at SSU contribute to our campus culture. I’d love to see more faculty embrace opportunities to represent the AANHPI experience in their classrooms, whether that is through readings, research, data sets, or learning about culturally sustaining practices in education and health care.”
April is AANHPI Heritage Month on campus, and ASAP is preparing a month filled with events and activities for students, staff, and community members to enjoy. ASAP is welcome to everyone, but taking AAS courses and participating in events is highly encouraged. Stay updated on all ASAP related events and information by following their Instagram page (@ssu.asap).
