Asian American and Pacific Islander Association
Launch Celebration
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 | Ballroom, Student Center
Approximately 300 people attended the launch celebration of the UA AAPI Association, which is an umbrella employee resource group for faculty and staff members of UA’s various AAPI organizations which function under the auspices of the UA Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Association offers educational opportunities around AAPI culture, history, heritage, and diversity within the AAPI community, and contributes to UA’s intellectual and social learning environment. Dr. Hee Yun Lee, professor and Endowed Academic Chair in the UA School of Social Work, serves as the inaugural and founding president of the Association. The University has six employee resources groups.
Hong Qiu performs to Tang Song, traditional Chinese music and dance of the Sui and Tang dynasties
UA President Dr. Stuart Bell greets attendees at the Asian American and Pacific Islander Association Launch Celebration.
Officers for the Association are Drs. Doris Sung, secretary; Hee Lee, president; Hyunjin Noh, chair of advocacy and legal aid; Shinae Choi, chair of development and fundraising;Wanyun Shao, treasurer; Nahree Doh, vice president; and Di Luo, chair of education and research.
Nozomi Daiko, a traditional Japanese drumming ensemble composed of students and faculty at UA, performed at the event. The purpose of the group is not only to entertain, but to teach others about Japanese culture through music.
Tiger Rock Martial Arts demonstrated the Korean martial art of taekwondo. Performers Justin Yoon, Jayden Yoon, Gavin Zayas, Leanna Thurston and Arnav Gupta were led by master Brett Bailey.
HallyUA, a K-pop cover dance group, performed at the event. The group holds social events for people to experience Korean culture and K-pop, which is Korean pop music.
Gourav Rath, a doctoral student in the College of Communication and Information Sciences, sang a popular song from Bollywood, which is Hindi-language cinema from India.
Jim Page, president and CEO of the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce, (left) and JacQuan Winters, chair of the Chamber’s Diverse Business Council, (right) greet AAPI president Dr. Hee Lee (second left) and Dr. Shinae Choi, AAPI Association officer.
The association offers educational opportunities around AAPI culture, history, heritage and diversity within the AAPI community, and contributes to the campus learning environment.
Faculty, staff and students at cultural tables educated attendees on Korean, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Bangladeshi and Nepalese cultures.
Dr. Pamela Payne-Foster brings greetings from the Black Faculty and Staff Association.
Angel Narvaez-Lugo brings greetings from the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association.
Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, dean of Social Work, (center) talks with attendees. The School of Social Work was one of the UA entities that provided financial support for the event.
The College of Human Environmental Sciences, represented by Dean Stuart Usdan, (center) provided financial support for the event.
Guests had time to mingle before, during and after the event.
Dr. Luoheng Han, senior associate provost for Academic Affairs and interim dean of the Honors College, (center) and his wife (left) greet visitors at the event.
Students, faculty and staff campuswide were invited to attend the launch event.
Members of the Chinese Culture Club attended the event.
The College of Arts and Sciences, represented by Dr. Utz McKnight (center), was a financial sponsor for the event.
Sankha Aditya, a doctoral student in the department of aerospace engineering and member of the Indian Students Association of Tuscaloosa, sang and played an Indian Hindi song on the guitar.
(From left) Drs. Nahree Doh, AAPIA vice president; G. Christine Taylor, vice president for UA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Hee Lee, AAPIA founding and inaugural president; thank Changjae Lee of the Law Office of Changjae Lee, a financial supporter of the event.
POSCO AAPC was recognized as a financial sponsor of the event. A representative for Kyu Hwan Lim (center) accepted the certificate on behalf of the company. Thanking him (from left) are Drs. Nahree Doh, AAPIA vice president; G. Christine Taylor, vice president for UA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Hee Lee, AAPIA president.
Drs. Nahree Doh, AAPIA vice president; G. Christine Taylor, vice president for UA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Hee Lee, AAPIA president; extend gratitude to Mrs. Mi Sook Na, owner of American Deli, for her financial support of the event.
Winson Huang (second left) accepts a certificate for his assistance in launching the Association from Drs. Nahree Doh, AAPIA vice president; G. Christine Taylor, vice president for UA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Hee Lee, AAPIA president