Mission

The mission of Asian/Asian American Student Affairs is to provide guidance, support, and empowerment for undergraduate students, primarily those of Asian descent as well as for other students with an interest in Asian ethnic cultures and the Asian American experience.  Through services and programs, Asian/Asian American Student Affairs strives to satisfy the needs and interests of these students and contribute to their intellectual, cultural, social, and professional development so that they have engaging and fulfilling college experiences and grow as productive, critically thinking, and ethical citizens of a diverse yet complex world.

Asian/Asian American Student Affairs has seven primary goals to implement the mission:

• Advise individual students regarding their intellectual, cultural, social, and professional lives in order to contribute to their development in these areas.
• Advise the Asian/Asian American student groups and support their organizational and programmatic development.
• Advocate on behalf of the Asian/Asian American community by proposing, promoting, and supporting initiatives that may benefit not only the Asian/Asian American community but the entire Northwestern community as well.
• Outreach to prospective, newly admitted, and current students in order to raise their awareness of what the Asian/Asian American community has to offer that may enhance their college experience.
• Nurture the positive evolution of the Asian/Asian American community and cultivate connections with other communities on campus.
• Collaborate with various University departments to provide resources and opportunities that may support students in meeting their needs and interests.
• Establish networks with alumni, professionals, and organizations that may contribute to the development of students.

Structure

Asian/Asian American Student Affairs is one of three departments within the unit of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA). African American Student Affairs and Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs are also MSA departments. MSA is a unit within the Division of Student Affairs.

Community

Asians and Asian Americans currently represent the largest racial minority group at Northwestern, making up approximately 20 percent of the undergraduate student body. The Asian/Asian American community consists of students, faculty, and staff of many ethnicities and identities including adoptees and mixed-race individuals as well as community members of all backgrounds who are interested in Asian cultures and the Asian American experience.

Staff

Tedd Vanadilok, Director
Claire Kelly, Program Assistant