ACPA Asian Pacific American Network

Congratulations to our APAN 2026 Award Winners!! We are so excited to celebrate the work of these amazing people and programs 🎉

🏆 Outstanding Graduate Student
✨Jiayu Wang✨
The University of Miami
Graduate Assistant

🏆 Outstanding New Professional
✨Yi Xuen Tay✨
University of California, Berkeley
Resident Director

🏆 Outstanding Experienced Professional
✨Bona Lee✨
University of California, Berkeley
Assistant Director

🏆 Distinguished APIDA Leadership Award
✨Dan Xayaphanh, EdD✨
The University of Arizona
Director, CIELO

🏆 The Dr. Daniello Balón Mentoring Award
✨Aeriel A. Ashlee, PhD✨
St. Cloud State University
Associate Professor

🏆 Outstanding Program/Initiative for APIDA Student Success
✨SSWANA Living Learning Community✨
University of California, Berkeley
Resident Director, SSWANA and BLOOM

🏆 Excellence in Research & Scholarship
✨Nha-Nghi Trong Nguyen✨
San Jose State University
Analyst & EdD Candidate

🏆 Community Care & Advocacy Award
✨Janine Silvis✨
The University of Arizona
Doctoral Candidate, Center for the Study of Higher Education

Still figuring out what educational sessions to attend this week? Consider these APAN-endorsed sessions! Leave some room in your schedule to learn more about these important topics 📓✍🏽

Help us fund more opportunities for students and professionals to join APAN’s 40th Anniversary at ACPA 2027! If you’re able, donate $40 to celebrate our 40th year 💝

Visit tinyurl.com/APAN-Donate-2025 or scan the QR code to make a donation.

Join us for our fourth annual ACPA Passport Challenge, brought to you by the APAN Community Engagement Team! The challenge begins Monday, March 30th ✅

How to play:
• Grab a physical copy of the passport at our Connection Point table on March 30th at 2:30-3:30pm in BCC Hall C
~OR~
• Screenshot this post to complete your passport digitally by using your phone’s photo editor to mark it up

Steps to win:
1. To receive your stamps, show an APAN Leadership Team member your challenge completion (take photos!), and they will stamp off your passport. You need to complete 4 challenges in a row.
2. Submit your finished passport to an APAN Leadership Team member to be entered into a raffle for a gift bag prize.
3. Raffle will be drawn at APAN Community Connections on Tuesday, March 31st, at 5:30-7:00pm in BCC 302. Join us then to find out if you win! 🎟️🏆

Chat with an APAN Scholar! 🎓🧠📚💬 These brilliant people are volunteering their time to offer guidance during open office hours. Below are lists of topics or passion areas that they are open to discussing with emerging scholars and professionals. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from their wisdom and experience!

⭐ Dr. Glenn DeGuzman ⭐ — Managing Personal and Professional Values: The complexities of “middle management” to “senior leadership.”  Minority Tax: Managing the “hidden labor” of DEI work without stalling personal career growth.  Communication Style: Navigating Western “assertiveness” expectations vs. API cultural values.  Sponsorship vs. Mentorship: Finding leaders who will advocate for you in “rooms you aren’t in.”

⭐ Dr. Demeturie Toso-Lafaele Gogue ⭐ — Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Pacific Islander Student Experiences; Pursuing Doctoral Education; Navigating Academia

⭐ Dr. Hannah Hyun White ⭐ — navigating graduate school, academic job market, postdoc experiences, student activism, transracial adoptees in higher education, getting involved in professional associations

⭐ Dr. Mitsu Narui ⭐ — careers outside of faculty roles, choosing a graduate school, navigating APIDA identity at a PWI (predominately white institution)

⭐ Dr. Soua Xiong ⭐ — pursuing doctoral studies; navigating the PhD experience; getting involved in professional associations; doing the academic job search process; research on Southeast Asian Americans in higher education

To chat with one of our APAN scholars during their open office hours, sign up by visiting tinyurl.com/APAN-Scholars-2026 or navigate to the SignUpGenius by using the Linktree in our bio.

Getting ready for ACPA 2026? Make some room in your schedule to spend time with the Asian Pacific American Network with our APAN Connects and Affinity Spaces! Whether you are a new or returning attendee, the APAN Leadership Team wants to continue expanding our community. We’d love to connect with you 🙌🏽✨🎉

To chat with one of our APAN scholars during their open office hours, sign up by visiting tinyurl.com/APAN-Scholars-2026.

Looking forward to seeing y’all in Baltimore next week! If you have any questions, please feel free to send us a DM.

Getting ready for ACPA 2026? Make some room in your schedule to spend time with the Asian Pacific American Network with our APAN Connects and Affinity Spaces! Whether you are a new or returning attendee, the APAN Leadership Team wants to continue expanding our community. We’d love to connect with you 🙌🏽✨🎉

Looking forward to seeing you in Baltimore next week! If you have any questions, please feel free to send us a DM.

Today marks the first day of Ramadan. During this holy month, let us embrace kindness, self‑reflection, and generosity. May our hearts be filled with peace, our minds with clarity, and our days with purpose. Let us use this time to be grateful, support those in need, and strengthen the bonds of family and community. Wishing a blessed and joyful Ramadan to everyone celebrating!

Spread the love by nominating for an APAN award! 💖

The Asian Pacific American Network (APAN) 2025-2026 award nominations are OPEN!

APAN is seeking nominations for our annual awards, which recognize our professional community members who have contributed significantly to uplifting the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American (APIDA) community within student affairs and higher education. Individuals may be nominated for more than one award, and self-nominations are welcome. Nominators and nominees do not have to be a current ACPA member to nominate or be nominated for our awards.

Historically, APAN presents 3 awards each year. However, we are elated to expand our award recognitions starting at the ACPA 2026 Annual Convention. Including 5 inaugural awards*, we are seeking nominations for 8 categories:

⚓️ Dr. Daniello Balón Mentoring Award
⚓️ Outstanding Graduate Student Award
⚓️ Outstanding New Professional*
⚓️ Outstanding Experienced Professional*
⚓️ Distinguished APIDA Leadership Award*
⚓️ Outstanding Program/Initiative for APIDA Student Success Award
⚓️ Excellence in Research & Scholarship*
⚓️ Community Care & Advocacy Award*

⏰ Nominations due by 11:59 PM Hawaii Time (HT) on Mon, 16 Feb 2026.
🔗 bit.ly/APAN2026Awards (case-sensitive link in bio)

Today we have Will, our APAN Past Chair, to close out our takeovers!

No IG takeover today, but we wanted to introduce our Scholarship, Research, and Advocacy Co-Chair. Meet Ilya!!

Meet our Community Engagement Co-Chair Yi Xuen Tay who will be taking over the APAN instagram for !