Having a sense of community doesn’t just benefit students at the 推荐杏吧原创. For faculty and staff, having a support network and feeling part of something larger than themselves is just as important.
May is nationally recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, also known as Asian Pacific Islander (API) Month on campus. This is a time to celebrate the University’s diverse faculty, staff and students who make up the Wolf Pack community. The University celebrates API Month across both April and May, with many of the primary events taking place in April to maximize participation ahead of commencement and the start of summer terms.
Fostering a sense of belonging within the Asian, Asian American and Indigenous Pacific Islander communities on campus, a faculty and staff group called AsPIre was established about five years ago. AsPIre is shaping and advancing AAPI initiatives on campus. The group has many purposes but some of the primary initiatives are to support faculty and staff growth through networking, professional development and mentoring.
Conrad Chow’s journey with the University and diversity initiatives
Conrad Chow is deeply rooted at the University, earning two master's degrees in communication studies and business administration at the University. Chow is now the program manager for the New Student Initiatives Office and a lecturer for the Honors 399 Lab course. Chow got a deep sense of belonging and community on campus after getting connected to AsPIre where he now holds a co-chair position.
“I was introduced to the group through Jen Sims, director of Upward Bound, through our shared interest in Asian cuisine and community. That connection really opened the door for me to find a sense of belonging with AsPIre and get more involved on campus,” Chow said.
AsPIre goes beyond API month, giving faculty the opportunity to stay connected year-round.
“For faculty, you come to work, you work and then you go home – it’s easy to lose a sense of community,” Chow said. For me, AsPIre is to learn how to create cultures and places that can be really beneficial. There is support for each other, less burnout and it helps retention rates with faculty,” Chow said.
In addition to fostering connections, AsPIre hosts several social events open to anyone who would like to engage with the community.
“Last year, we started this AsPIre group chat on Teams. There's 40-50 people in it now. It’s a no-pressure place to share links, such as local restaurants they tried or events that they're hosting so we can best support each other even if we're not meeting formally. I think that's really taught me the power of community in supporting each other,” Chow said.
Building connection beyond formal gatherings can be especially useful during finals. Last April, Chow got to be part of one of his new favorite events on campus, “Release Some Steam.” Meredith Oda, Keola Wong and the Multicultural Center organized this event to celebrate and uplift the API community on campus.
“Release Some Steam was a play on words. Knowing that there is stress that comes with finals, and it being around the same time as API History Month, we just wanted an open, come-as-you-are type of space. There were different steamed buns for students to try. We had so many people come that we ended up running out,” Chow said.
AsPIre now and in the future
AsPIre continues to foster a welcoming campus community for faculty and staff. The group encourages others to get involved, whether that means holding a chair position, leading events or simply participating in the online group chat to stay connected and see what the community is up to. To connect with the working group, email AsPIre.
“At AsPIre we want to support everyone beyond just API. For me, being in this position and being able to support all groups, and seeing how we can do things together, has helped me feel a sense of community on campus,” Chow said.
Through shared leadership and intentional community-building, AsPIre is helping shape a campus culture rooted in belonging.
