51ĀŅĀ×

Mission

The Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders: Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development (AAPI-LEAD) employee affinity group fosters networking, professional development, awareness, and support for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders at 51ĀŅĀ×. It also serves as a resource for the larger AAPI community in Athens and Regional Higher Education (RHE) locations. AAPI-LEAD seeks to elevate awareness and advocate for the diverse needs of OHIO AAPI members through educational, cultural, and social activities. AAPI-LEAD aligns with OHIOā€™s inclusive excellence and strategic goals, as well as provides leadership regarding OHIO AAPI faculty, staff, student, and alumni issues.

Vision

AAPI-LEAD envisions itself to be a leading organization at OHIO to foster an inclusive, just, and equitable community at both the university and the larger Southeast region of Ohio in which AAPI members are valued, connected, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Values

• Connection & Community Building
• Personal & Professional Development
• Education & Advocacy
• Social Justice

Strategic Goals and Action Items

Goal 1. Recruit and retain a diverse AAPI community.  

• Establish a commitment to make AAPI people visible and valued on campus.  
• Reach and create an inclusive board of leaders from diverse backgrounds. 
• Recruit members inclusively to advance AAPI representation on campus. 
• Build a network with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committees at different colleges and related university offices to foster a diverse, just, and inclusive campus climate for AAPI people.  
• Expand partnerships with other DEI organizations on campus (e.g. AAPISU) and in the community (e.g. AAAA) to increase the visibility of AAPI people within and outside of 51ĀŅĀ×.  

Goal 2. Explore AAPIā€˜s contributions to teaching, research, and service related to campus diversity and inclusion. 

• Explore the contributions of AAPI people to the university and to the community through research-based activities. 
• Highlight AAPIā€™s contributions via various social media platforms in and outside of 51ĀŅĀ× to make AAPI highly valued.  

Goal 3. Explore AAPI facultyā€™s and staffā€™s sense of belonging and their needs.  

• Explore AAPIā€™s sense of belonging and their needs through research-based activities. 
• Work with related administration offices to make sure AAPIā€™s voice will be heard and needs will be addressed. 

Goal 4. Build a sustained commitment to continuous professional development in diversity and inclusion. 

• Enhance AAPIā€™s knowledge and engagement of diversity, inclusion, and shared governance through workshops, training, and events.  
• Make AAPI visible, heard, valued, and respected through continuous research presentations and publications in and outside 51ĀŅĀ×.
• Host Inclusive Excellence workshops for faculty and students on campus.  

Faculty Highlights

Learn more about faculty awards and other highlights.

Youngsun Kim, University Professor Award 

Associate Professor at College of Health Sciences and Professions 

ā€œMy teaching philosophy is based on understanding of others,ā€ Dr. Kim said. ā€œMy previous experiences help me to develop inclusive environment in my class and lab meetings.ā€

Chao-Yang Lee, University Professor Award 

Associate Professor at College of Health Sciences and Professions

ā€œI am fortunate that all the communities that I have been part of-- graduate school at Brown, postdoc lab at MIT, and my current workplace at 51ĀŅĀ×-- all value diversity highly,ā€ Dr. Lee said. ā€œThe respect for common humanity I have experienced naturally shaped my approach to teaching diverse groups of students.ā€

Yuqiu You, Faculty Excellence Award from The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering 

Professor of Engineering Technology and Management 

"My cultural background makes me pay more attention to the diversity and inclusion in my teaching in and outside classrooms," Dr. You said. "For example, more sensitive to students' feeling of belonging, paying more attention to diverse groups of students, and implementing more strategies to create equity and feeling of belonging in class rooms.

Tiao J. Chang, Professor Emritus of Civil Engineering

Professor Emritus of Civil Engineering 

ā€œDiversity prevails in nature. To be sustainable, diversity and inclusion are important for campus climate,ā€ Dr. Chang said.