Celebrating AAPI Heritage and Connecting Students to Mentors

Today’s topic is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

AAPI Heritage Month offers an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the many contributions of Americans who trace their ancestry to one of the Asian countries or islands of the Pacific. This year, the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) has chosen “Advancing Leaders through Collaboration” as its theme.

The importance of this goal is underscored by recent research by Ascend, a group of Pan-Asian business leaders. The group found that while AAPI individuals make up 13% of the US workforce, they represent just 6% of CEOs. Simply put, AAPI success in college and in entering the workforce has not resulted in their advancement as leaders in organizations and industries. This is as true in higher education as in other sectors: the most recent ACE American College Presidents Study (2017) revealed that only 2% were AAPI.

As the FAPAC theme reminds us, changing this picture takes collaboration, and at NOVA, we can be part of this important work. Our college is designated as an AANAPISI college; and collegewide, in fall 2021, 18% of our students reported being of Asian descent. NOVA’s new AAPI Connect program, supported by our AANAPISI grant, is a culturally-based peer mentor program that connects AAPI students with peer mentors to help them thrive academically and build leadership skills in navigating their college journeys. Applications from students seeking mentors are accepted through August 31, and you can click here to learn more about the program.

NOVA’s commitment to inclusive excellence provides us with an ideal platform for advancing future leaders through collaboration. So, this month, as we celebrate the inspiring contributions of the AAPI community within NOVA and in our region, state and nation, I also encourage you to become involved in nurturing and growing the next generation of AAPI scholars and leaders.

To learn more about NOVA’s AANAPISI grant and related initiatives, please contact CDEIO Nathan Carter.