Stanford Asian American Activities Center

Staff

Cindy Ng

Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Asian American Activities Center.
Since joining the A³C staff in 1991, Cindy has worked with faculty, staff and alumni to build community and to create programming and opportunities that support students in their academic and co-curricular endeavors. Cindy has worked with students on programming, leadership development, and advising. She works closely with staff at the other ethnic community centers in developing the LEAD (Leading Through Education, Activism, and Diversity) program and also serves on various university committees. Cindy is a longtime Alameda resident who graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Math. Prior to coming to Stanford, she spent time in New York working as a speechwriter for David N. Dinkins who became the first African American Mayor in New York City.

Shelley Tadaki

Associate Director of the Asian American Activities Center.
In her role as Associate Director of the A³C,Shelley works closely with the A³C student staff to coordinate center programs and major events. She also collaborates with staff in other university departments to develop joint programs to bring awareness of campus resources to students. Outside of the center, Shelley has also served as a co-advisor for the ASSU Senate and serves as an Academic Advisor for Freshmen. Shelley was born and raised in Hawai’i and has a BA in History, a minor in CSRE and an MA in Education from Stanford. Prior to returning to work at Stanford in 2004, she worked in the nonprofit sector developing scholarship programs for a community foundation in San Francisco.

Student Staff

Each year the Asian American Activities Center employs roughly 20 undergraduate students who each work 5-7 hours a week. They serve as the office staff for the Center and implement programs throughout the year. The students are a critical component in the work of the A³C and ensure that the Center’s offerings match the needs of the student body.

Jeff Chen ‘13 – Speaker Series Coordinator
Sandy Chang ‘13 – Special Events Coordinator
Paul Iona ‘12 – Facilities Coordinator
Melissa Luu ‘12 – After Dark Coordinator
Christian Ollano ‘12 – Community Building Coordinator
Victoria Yee ‘13 – Publicity Coordinator

Please click on a staff member’s name to find out more about them

Jeff Chen

Speaker Series Coordinator

Jeff Chen

Major:
Class:	2013
Hometown:	Danville, CA

Why you joined the A³C: I wanted to be more involved in the Asian American community at Stanford
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: Stanford judo class- awesome workout and even more awesome teachers
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Sleep is for the weak.

Sandy Chang

Special Events Coordinator

Major:	Undeclared
Class:	2013
Hometown:	Rochester, MN

Why you joined the A³C: I wanted to learn more about opportunities for Asian Americans at Stanford University. I also wanted to meet new friends and staff!
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: SLE ;P
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Procrastination is inevitable. Plan well!

Paul Iona

Facilities Coordinator

Major:	Undeclared
Class:	2012
Hometown:	Ewa Beach, HI

Why you joined the A³C: As a Native Hawaiian, I am proud of my Hawaiian culture and identity. However, I never really got to know anything about my Asian heritage growing up. By working at the A³C, I hope to learn about and be active in not just the Asian community here at Stanford, but the Asian American community as a whole..
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: Introsems – a great way to take an interesting class with interesting profs while getting the credit and GERs that you need! Choose wisely!
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Take advantage of EVERYTHING – including all the great programs that the A³C has to offer (Speaker Series, AIM, After Dark Series)!

Melissa Luu

After Dark Coordinator

Melissa Luu

Major:	Undecided
Class:	2012
Hometown:	Chicago, IL

Why you joined the A³C: I attended a small, private school in Chicago and could count and name all the minorities in the high school. There was hardly ever a chance to celebrate diversity, and any attempt seemed half-hearted. Growing up, I didn’t see my Vietnamese and Chinese cultural background as being something I needed to take pride in—I didn’t see it as something that was important. Recently, though, I began to learn more about my Vietnamese heritage, and am so thankful that Stanford has a center dedicated to Asian culture so I can continue on that path of rediscovery. I never had a means in high school through which to organize activities and learn about other Asian cultures, so it feels like an honor to be involved now.
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: Anything hosted by the A3C! The Asian American Sib Program is amazing and made it so much easier to adjust to Stanford life.
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Don’t underestimate the time spent chilling or hanging out with your friends. Everyone I have met thus far at Stanford has taught me something new—and they are all just awesome people to hang out with!

Christian Ollano

Community Building Coordinator

Major:	IR and Japanese
Class:	2012
Hometown:	Las Vegas, NV

Why you joined the A³C: I joined the A3C for several reasons. One, I wanted to learn more about the Asian American community here at Stanford and what influence it has on the entire Stanford community. Two, I feel like I owe much to the A3C after spending countless hours studying in the cluster and eating the seemingly endless supply of Kung Pao chicken and chow mien leftovers from Speaker Series. It’s my way of saying thank you. Three, I want to be more connected, not only to the API leadership at Stanford, but to the API events that make up Stanford culture as well.
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: Windsurfing!
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Don’t go to the DISH at midnight. You might encounter my pet mountain lion!

Victoria Yee

Publicities Coordinator

Major:	Undecided, but learning towards the Humanities and Social Sciences
Class:	2013
Hometown:	Westminster, CA

Why you joined the A³C: I joined the A³C to get involved with the Asian American community at Stanford. Especially as a freshman, everything is so new and bewildering, but the programs and warm welcome the Asian American community showed me when I arrived gave me a sense of confidence and security to begin my next four years.
One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford: Before leaving Stanford, you should visit the A3C or come to one of its events! I wasn’t even sure where it was until I had to submit my Freshman Intern app, and I’m happy to know that I figured out where it is pretty early on.
Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus: Stanford was, and still is, intimidating. But sometimes, you just have to go for it!

Advisory Board

The Asian American Activities Center Advisory Board serves to promote and support the work of the Center. This includes fundraising, advocacy for needed student services, and advising on the overall direction of the A³C. The Board is composed of undergraduate and graduate students, staff, alumni, and faculty.

Stephanie Otani-Sunamoto ‘11
Undergraduate Student Representative

Ketaki Shriram ‘12
Undergraduate Student Representative

Michael Tayag, ‘12
Undergraduate Student Representative

Kevin Y. Kim
Graduate Student Representative

Christine Wotipka
Faculty Representative

Linda Taoka
Asian Staff Forum Representative

Elena Serrano
Filipino American Community at Stanford Representative

Maria Zajac
SAPAAC Alumni Representative

Melissa Luu ‘12
AASA Ex-Officio

Brad Nguyen ‘12
AASA Ex-Officio

Cindy Ng
A3C, Ex-Officio

Shelley Tadaki
A3C, Ex-Officio