Alumni
Since AASP’s founding in 1987, thousands of undergraduate students have taken our courses, and many have opted to minor in Asian American Studies. Even after graduation, alumni remain connected to the AASP mission through their chosen careers and activities, and continue to engage through programming, gifts, and the AASP Instagram and Facebook accounts. All alumni are encouraged to contact us with their current status and news, so the AASP network can continue to grow. We always love to hear what you're up to!
Alumni Reflections
Emily Dong ‘18, Jeremiah Kim ‘19, and James Espeleta ‘20 interview Faye Caronan ‘01, Associate Professor and Chair, Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado-Denver and author of Legitimizing Empire: Filipino American and U.S. Puerto Rican Cultural Critique
Jeremiah Kim ‘19 and Michelle Zhao ‘19 interview Dylan Rodriguez ‘95, Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Riverside and author of Forced Passages: Imprisoned Radical Intellectuals and the U.S. Prison Regime and Suspended Apocalypse: White Supremacy, Genocide, and the Filipino Condition
Alyssa Kamath '23 and Juhwan Seo, PhD student in sociology, interview Diane Wong '18, Assistant Professor, Political Science at Rutgers University, Newark
Sarah Meiners, PhD student in history, and Priyanka Sen, PhD student in history of architecture and urban development, interview Moon-Ho Jung '91, government, MA '95, Ph.D. '00, history, and Professor, History, University of Washington and author of Menace to Empire: Anticolonial Solidarities and the Transpacific Origins of the US Security State
Alumni Updates
Jensen Cheong '15 "After graduating in 2015, I commissioned from ROTC at Cornell into the United States Air Force and I was just promoted to Captain. I completed Air Battle Manager training and deployed twice in support of combat operations overseas. In addition, I have participated in numerous joint service and multinational exercises at home and abroad. All of these experiences have allowed me to meet and work with people from all around the country and the world! I still plan to attend law school after my service and return to working in the federal government!"
Sharon Paik '09 is currently a Staff Attorney with the Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) Project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles, which is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Sharon provides family law services to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, particularly those who are low-income and limited English proficient.
After graduating in 2007, Allen Fung '07 first served with AmeriCorps and then went on to join the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund's Youth Rights & Educational Equity Division. Allen also attended Teachers College, Columbia University and in 2012, earned his MA in Social Studies Education. Currently, Allen is a social studies teacher in suburbs of NJ. Allen's plan is to obtain a PhD/EdD and become a Department Head/Supervisor of Social Studies.
Samantha Wu '08 pursued her love of science by getting a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Physiology. During graduate school, she was very involved in Hep B Free San Francisco. Samantha is currently in medical school at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine. At MSU, she remains very involved in Hepatitis B awareness in the local Asian American community and is Midwest Regional Director of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) as well as President at her chapter at MSU.
In 2012, Alison Chen '08 graduated from Parsons the New School for Design’s MFA Program in Photography and Related Media. During the program, she participated in a residency at the Atelier de visu in Marseille, France, where she studied with Magnum Photography Antoine D’Agata. She has also traveled to China twice to participate in the Pingyao International Photography Festival. Alison was awarded a residency at Arteles Creative Center in Finland fin April 2013.
After a brief summer traveling abroad, Lucy Chen '09 returned to school full-time to begin a dual Master’s degree program in Early Childhood Special and General Education and Social Work with Bank Street College of Education and Columbia University School of Social Work. She is hoping to complete degree requirements for both schools by 2015.
Congratulations to AASP alum Nate Shinagawa '05 for his big win in the 2012 New York Democratic Party primary. He'll be running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in New York's 23rd Congressional District. See what you can do with an Asian American Studies Minor?
Michelle Wong '05 is currently an Analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the independent agency that advises Congress and federal agencies on ways to make government more efficient, effective, ethical, and responsive.
Monica Tai '06 is currently a full-time MBA student at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where she is an active member in the Asian American Association of MBAs, as well as the Marketing, Healthcare, and Christian clubs.
Since graduating from the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jonathan M. Perez '07 has obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. He is now in New York City working as a general practitioner and pursuing a specialization in small animal surgery.
Eric Ng '09 is currently a rising third year law student at Rutgers School of Law. He has interned for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Judge Dennis Cavanaugh and Prudential Investments. He was also the Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association