Congratulations to our 2022 Asian American Studies graduates!
Asian American Studies Resource Center Employees
Kemi Simisola Adewalure – American Studies and Asian Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Yuan Chen – Industrial and Labor Relations, Industrial and Labor Relations School
Elizabeth Jung – Communication, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Matthew Kuo – Finance, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business
Andrew Lee – Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
Felisha Li – Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Justin Ong – Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Mia N. Song – American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Asian American Studies Minors
William Chan – Biology and Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
Timothy Chang – Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Yuan Chen – Industrial and Labor Relations, Industrial and Labor Relations School
Carolyn Chun – Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences
Miya Kuramoto – American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Leadora Kyin – Information Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Sora Lee – English and Government, College of Arts and Sciences
Justin Ong – Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Mia N. Song – American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Sherrie Sin Yee Tan – Computer Science and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences
Chloe Tsui – Architecture, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
Elaine Wang – Human Development, College of Human Ecology
Gigi Wong – Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Selections from Minor Student Bios and Reflections
“Ever since my first AASP class (Asian American History with Professor Chang), I am so grateful to have learned a history that is finally my history. AASP has been critical to decolonizing my mind and understanding how my lived experiences are intimately connected with U.S. cultures of war and empire. In learning about systemic inequities ingrained in localized and transnational contexts of Asian America, AASP also has helped me internalize socio-political anxieties and find a community, especially in a time of heightened fear and hate.”
Yuan Chen (Industrial and Labor Relations, Industrial and Labor Relations School) is graduating with minors in Asian American studies, inequality studies, and business. Yuan is passionate about achieving justice and equity for her community. She will be doing a Citi Service Year at Asian Americans for Equality before returning to Citi in Public Finance post-graduation.
“From my first class in AAS, Asian American Performance, to my Independent Study during my final semester at Cornell, the faculty, staff, and students in the AASP gave me the space to explore my Asian American identity and feel seen. I am forever grateful for the excitement, respect, and comfort that I have experienced as a member of this community. I would like to thank Professor Balance and Professor Chang for the ways in which they have inspired and supported me to explore my passions and follow my curiosity.”
Miya Kuramoto (American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences) is graduating with minors in Asian American studies and inequality studies. During her time here, Miya was a member of the varsity track & field team, community outreach chair of Women of Color Athletics (WOCA), and an Arts & Sciences Ambassador. Following graduation, Miya is relocating to Washington, DC where she will work full-time for Huron as a Higher Education Consulting Analyst.
“Coming into college, I wanted to minor in something but thought I could barely manage just majoring in something. After taking some AAS courses, the first being Introduction to Asian American Literature, I considered continuing taking courses in the AASP going forward even though I was scrambling to work out my schedule with my major courses. The AASP helped me find balance in my coursework—as a STEM major who’s been in liberal arts education her whole life, I wanted to maintain the mix of subjects I was learning each semester prior to college. So far, I’ve taken a handful of AAS courses in the short amount of time I’ve been able to, but have truly enjoyed each one. The connections with the subjects at hand in these courses as well as those I make with my peers and faculty have been essential in experience as a Cornell student.”
Leadora Kyin (Information Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) is graduating with a concentration in user experience and is interested in intersectional and accessible design. Leadora is from Queens, NY and loves creating, traveling, reading, being outdoors, and eating good food.
“AAS course work has given me substantial insight to my cultural identity. Before coming to Cornell, I knew little of what it meant to be Asian American. Pursuing this minor equipped me with knowledge that helped me better understand myself, my family history, and how to be an advocate for my community. I’m highly grateful for my professors and AASP for giving me the opportunity to pursue my own independent project on Asian American mental health as well. The project was highly meaningful to me and I hope to continue this work in the future.”
Justin Ong (Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences) will be graduating with a minor in Asian American studies. Some of his biggest involvements have been being a member of Pi Delta Psi (a cultural fraternity on campus) as well as doing volunteer work in the Ithaca community within organizations such as the Ithaca Free Health Clinic and Big Brothers Big Sisters. After graduation, he will be working as a research assistant at the Hospital for Special Surgery in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for a year. At the same time, he will be applying to medical school.
“I made the decision to affiliate with AASP in my last year of college and wish I did so sooner. My AAS classes made me realize that the various identities I’ve always grappled with—of being a second-generation Asian American, of growing up in a city of immigrants, of belonging to the Chinese diaspora, of being an Asian woman in male-dominated fields of study—were subjects I could actually explore in the classroom. I have much love for Professor Chang’s history class and Juhwan Seo’s labor and migration class, for both providing me the tools to first analyze the broader historical and contemporary trends that uniquely underline Asian America, and subsequently, my identities. Beyond the classroom, though, I also have much love for AASP in general, for the warmth and belonging that they’ve shown not only me, but I’m sure many others as well. I leave Cornell, therefore, with the sense of belonging given to me by the program, and hope to give back to the broader AAPI community beyond Cornell.”
Sherrie Sin Yee Tan (Computer Science and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences) is from Queens, New York. On campus, Sherrie was previously involved with the Ithaca Girls’ Math Circle, the math department’s Directed Reading Program, and Cornell Ukulele Club. She has a passion for K-12 tutoring, especially in STEM outreach, and her personal hobbies include playing the piano (or her ukulele, or her kalimba!), learning how to cook all of her favorite dishes, and reading fiction/fantasy novels. After graduation, she will be working as a software engineer in lower Manhattan full-time; on the side, Sherrie will volunteer for a grassroots organization based in NYC’s Chinatown that plans and runs meal distribution events to combat food insecurity within the AAPI community.
