AsPIre

Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander Working Group

AsPIre was founded in 2021 at the University of Nevada, Reno as an alliance of Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander (AAPI) faculty and staff members who are interested in shaping and advancing AAPI initiatives on campus and addressing related issues.

Mission statement

AsPIre is dedicated to promoting a collaborative and generative environment for Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander faculty, staff and students on campus and beyond. We work towards fostering an inclusive community and cultivating professional, institutional and personal development of and for our members.

Purpose

AsPIre aims to:

• Grow a community of Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander faculty and staff through networking, professional development and mentoring.
• Assist with efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty and staff.
• Mentor and support Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander students.
• Communicate relevant concerns with University members and work towards policies and institutional solutions.
• Increase the visibility and celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander communities at University of Nevada, Reno.
• Educate the University and wider community about Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander issues and initiatives.

Steering committee: Academic Year 2023–2024

• Cydney Giroux, Academic Advisor, College of Liberal Arts Student Center (co-chair)
• Meredith Oda, Associate Professor, Department of History and Associate Chair, Department of Gender, Race & Identity (co-chair)
• Conrad Chow, Financial Aid Advisor, Enrollment
• Daniel Enrique Perez, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts
• Rose Ann Gutierrez, Assistant Professor, Equity and Diversity in Education
• Lin Li Hall, Senior Lecturer/Advisor, Department of World Languages & Literatures
• Eunkang Koh, Associate Professor, Department of Art
• Sandhya Krittika Narayanan, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology
• Grace Leal, Coordinator, Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising
• Matt Means, Associate Professor, School of Music and Dean of Honors College
• Jennifer Ng, Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of History
• Soichiro Motohashi, Lecturer, Department of World Languages & Literatures
• Kate Pollard, Senior Lecturer, School of Music
• Jennifer Sims, Assistant Director, Upward Bound & Upward Bound Math Science Programs
• Claire Stanford, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Creative Writing
• Yi Xuen Tay, Resident Director, Residential Life and Housing
• Keola Wong, Coordinator, The Multicultural Center

How do I become a member?

For more information, to join our listserv and/or to become a member, please contact any member of the steering committee.