BRIDGES 2.0 - Asian American Studies Program Newsletter - Issue 2025

Sep 11, 2026

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BRIDGES 2.0 delivers program updates for the Asian American Studies Program during the 2024-2025 academic year. It highlights leadership reflections from the editors and the director, including growth in certificate enrollment, new faculty and staff support, and co-sponsored campus and community events. Coverage includes curriculum expansion with new course offerings, film and study break initiatives, and recognition of graduating seniors, graduate students, and award winners, concluding with program contacts and acknowledgments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time7 min

AccessFree to download

Asian American Studies Program Newsletter

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editors

Letter from the Director

New AASP Faculty

BRIDGES 2.0 # Asian American Studies Program Newsletter ## Table of Contents 1)Letter from the Editors 2)Letter from the Director 3)New Faculty Profile 4)AASP Student Ambassadors 6)Why Asian American Studies? 9)Featured Graduating Senior 10)Graduate Student Spotlight 14)Amy Ling Award Winners 15)Staff Highlight 16)Celebrating Faculty 18)Course Offerings 19)Thank You! AAS Staff:Lisa Ho,Timothy Yu&Jessica Montez 20)Contact Letter from the Editors Another year,another issue of Bridges 2.0.The 2024-2025 AY has been a busy one for Asian AmericanStudies.Our program continues to thrive with a growing number of certificate students,co-sponsored events,and new faculty.We welcomed a new faculty member,Dr.Rachel Kuo,who is also jointly appointed in Genderand Women's Studies.The program had the pleasure of two directors this year:Peggy Choy and Tim Yu.Professor Choy served as a director during the Fall;her presence steadied us for a successful beginning ofthe academic year.Professor Yu took over in the Spring and has already picked up the pace to ensure asuccessful end to the academic year.We co-sponsored many exciting events with campus partners at theAsian Pacific Islander Desi American Student Center,and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies andwelcomed talented writers and poets,such as Eddie Ahn and Mai Der Vang.Our recruit of new programambassadors added so much energy to the program,and we've had successful study breaks and graduatestudent events.We are also grateful to have graduate program assistants this year:Xuan Nguyen and ElaineAlmeida.They were essential to the everyday work needed to run the program;we appreciate them both verymuch.We are so grateful to all the faculty,staff,collaborators,and students that have contributed to thegrowth and success of the Asian American Studies Program.As such,we will return next Spring with anotherissue of Bridges 2.0 chronicling more success and progress! Editors:Lisa Ho,Jessica Montez,and Xuan Nguyen # Letter from the Director Greetings, It's been a tremendous honor to return this year as director of the AsianAmerican Studies Program.When I last served in this position nearly adecade ago,I often characterized our program as small but scrappy:wehad few resources,but we had dedicated faculty and staff,passionatelycommitted students,and a supportive community.As I step back into thedirector's role,I'm awed by how our program has grown.In the pastdecade,we've doubled our faculty strength,welcomed new staff andaffiliates,and witnessed astonishing growth in our certificate program,with a record 85 students enrolled in the certificate in Fall 2024.Ourprogram,in short,isn't as small as it once was,but that same spirit ofcommitment and community continues to bring us all together.I'mindebted to the work of my predecessors as director,who haveshepherded the program through this period of unprecedented growth.Iwant to recognize the work of Professor Peggy Choy,who servedadmirably as interim director during Fall 2024. One of the most impressive changes is the growing scope and diversity of our curriculum.Some of theexciting courses we offered in 2024-25 included Critical Refugee Studies,The Pursuit of (Asian American)Happiness,Asian American Literary and Popular Culture,Southeast Asian Memory and Trauma,HmongAmerican Aesthetics and Culture,Eating Asian America,and Asian American Sports.We continue toexpand our course offerings in support of the HMoob American Studies emphasis in our certificateprogram,from Hmong American Experiences in the U.S.to Hmong Refugee History. It's been a great year for Asian American film on campus.In October,Madison's Asian American MediaSpotlight featured the films Smoking Tigers and Chaperone,and this spring,we're co-sponsoring theWisconsin Film Festival's presentation of the remake of The Wedding Banquet.We've also continued ourpopular study breaks,in conjunction with the APIDA Student Center,offering students treats,games,a

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the BRIDGES 2.0 newsletter?

BRIDGES 2.0 shares updates, achievements, and program developments for the Asian American Studies Program during the academic year.

What changes and growth does the director describe for 2024-2025?

The director highlights expanded faculty support, growth in the certificate program (including a record 85 enrolled in Fall 2024), and broader, more diverse curriculum offerings.

Which types of events and learning activities are mentioned in the newsletter?

The newsletter describes co-sponsored campus events, film programming, and popular study breaks that include treats, games, and career advice.

Sep 11, 2026

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