Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program

The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program (ASAP) was established at Sonoma State University (SSU) in Fall 2024 and supports the recruitment, enrollment, persistence, retention, and graduation of AANHPI students at SSU through academic classes, student support services, co-curricular programming, and community-building events. Serving primarily first-time first-year students and first-time transfer students, ASAP helps students build a sense of belonging and community during their time at SSU and enhances their ongoing academic, personal, and professional success. As both an academic and community-building program that is directly tied to the political work of Asian American Studies, ASAP programming is designed with the understanding that educational success in the classroom is informed by both the relationships students build and the learning experiences they have outside of the classroom, and that students can use their education to develop the tools and solutions they need to transform society. 

Students who join ASAP have the opportunity take Asian American Studies classes to learn about the history of AANHPI racialization and resistance in the U.S. and build the critical thinking skills and knowledge foundation they need to critique dominant narratives, center the lived experiences and expert knowledge of AANHPI communities, and come to understand their own positionality and power. ASAP students supplement their academic introduction to Asian American Studies by attending and participating in co-curricular activities that allow them to learn from and meet local AANHPI community organizers, activists, and artists who are doing the work of Asian American Studies in their daily lives and building important resources for their communities and society. Throughout their time in ASAP, ASAP students have the opportunity to connect with and build networks with other AANHPI students, faculty, and staff at SSU outside of the classroom through social events, mentorship programs, academic conferences, and more.

SSU ASAP is part of the California State University AANHPI Student Achievement Program (CSU ASAP), which was authorized by the California Education Code Section 89297.1 in 2022. 

Membership in ASAP is determined semester-by-semester based on your participation in ASAP programming. You must attend at least 2 ASAP events during the semester to be considered an active member, OR you can become a member of ASAP by taking an Asian American Studies classes and attending an ASAP event during the same semester.

ASAP events are announced through social media and via our AANHPI listserv. 

We welcome you to stop by our events to learn more, or you can email us with your questions! 

• Katherine H. Lee, ASAP Faculty Coordinator: [email protected]
• ASAP email (please note that this email has slower response times): [email protected]

• AMCS 277: Intro to Asian American Studies (fulfills GE Area 6)
  • Section 2: Tu/Th 1:00 AM – 2:45 PM
• AMCS 377: Asian American Experience (fulfills GE upper-division Area 4)
  •  Section 1: Tu/Th 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

• Katherine H. Lee, Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies & ASAP Faculty Coordinator

• Lauren Morimoto, Professor of Kinesiology

• Alvin Nguyen, Director of Student Success & University Advising

• Christina Thao, MESA Lead and Advisor

• Charlene Tung, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies

• Khou Yang-Vigil, Executive Director of the Center for Academic Access & Student Enrichment

• Kevin Nguyen, Associate Professor, Liberal Studies (2024-2025 Faculty Coordinator)