Director's Welcome

The Asian Pacific American Studies Program has always placed undergraduate learning at the center of our work. Students learn about Asian American histories, cultures, and identities in our team-taught introductory course and by enrolling in our undergraduate specialization. The program has also supported undergraduate research through our professorial assistant program and by including undergraduate researchers in our annual conferences.

This year, in addition to serving undergraduate students, we are expanding our reach to K-12 students and graduate students. In spring 2010, program faculty and staff mounted a free workshop for K-12 teachers from across Michigan, enabling them to incorporate Asian American studies into their classrooms and to serve their Asian American students more effectively. In the same month, program director Andrea Louie screened “Adopted: The Movie” for a local community group of families who have adopted children transracially from China and other locations. In addition to the film screening, a panel of transracial adoptees spoke with the families about their experiences. The film, panel, and discussion brought MSU graduate students and undergraduates together with community members, most of whom have Chinese American children in Lansing area K-12 schools.

In the coming year, we are running our first program that serves graduate students in the medical school! As just one part of a diverse program about “Rethinking Hmong American Culture” planned for spring semester 2011, we will be working with College of Human Medicine students in East Lansing and Grand Rapids to rethink some stereotypes about Asian American communities and cultures in order to help these future doctors serve their patients more effectively. We are also reaching out to graduate students interested in Asian American Studies throughout MSU. In part because of the model minority myth that all Asian Americans are strong students, such students are often underserved in school and college. At the same time, Asian Pacific American Studies makes valuable contributions to the curriculum at every level from Kindergarten through advanced graduate education. As the past year and coming year show, MSU’s Asian Pacific American Studies program is making a difference throughout Michigan’s education system.