UCI Giving Day 2021

UCI is a federally recognized Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student serving institution, and is located in Orange County, home to the third largest AAPI population in the country! UCI’s Asian American Studies (AAS) explores Asian American histories, experience, and cultural production and the intersections of race, gender, citizenship, ethnicity, and dis/ability within them.

Our remarkable students engage in all kinds of research and community-based activities in order to broaden knowledge about Asian American experiences. Our undergraduate and master’s degree students conduct interviews, work in archives, write original research, and collaborate with AAS scholars throughout the world (virtually for now, until it’s safe to travel again). The connections they make and the skills they learn are often the foundation for a meaningful career, whether in academia or out of it. 

The important research and community-based work our Asian American Studies students do comes with costs that standard university tuition and fees don't cover and that require additional support. We’re asking for your help so that our students—many of whom are first-generation college students and the children of immigrants—can achieve their goals while making a valuable contribution to our communities. At a time when anti-Asian hate crimes are on the rise and Asian Americans are subjected to racist rhetoric and violence, your support will show that our students cannot be silenced. 

Our Giving Day mission is to raise $7,500 to fund research experiences for our Asian American Studies undergraduates and masters’ students, so that they can enrich Asian American Studies scholarship and be better equipped for careers and lives beyond UC Irvine.

Student Testimonial:

"I really loved my experience with the AAS 4+1 Program last year since I was able to pursue research that I was passionate about, karaoke. This was a topic I wanted to share and explore as it was one of the many shared cultures that the Asian American community participates in regardless of class, space, and ethnicity. Although there were some challenges for my research, the AAS Department Faculty really helped me become a better scholar and expanded my knowledge in Ethnic Studies to help me find the language to explain the importance of karaoke within Asian American communities. In this program there were many opportunities to work outside of the classroom like being part of the "Learning From Our AAPI Leaders" Project, interning as an Archivist and Public Service Associate at the OC&SEAA (Orange County & Southeast Asian Archives), and attending special guest events hosted by the Humanities Center. Through this program, I was able to meet an amazing cohort and faculty that I can call a community."

- Mimi Eang, Class of 2020