Stanford Asian American Activities Center

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

Jeff Chen

Freshman Intern

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.

Back to top
Back to top

Katherine Chen

Design & Publicity Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

To play an integral role in strengthening the Asian American community at Stanford while exploring my own Chinese-American identity.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

As an engineering major, my freshman year schedule was filled with math and science classes. In Winter Quarter, I decided to not take Physics and tried Japanese instead. The sensei was fantastic and hilarious and I enjoyed the class so much. Moral of the story: take a class you love and will look forward to every day. It makes your quarter much more fun!

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Really get to know the people in your dorm. You’ll never have the same living experience, and some of the best bonding moments occur over lunch together in the dining hall, singing around the piano or playing ping pong, or late at night in the common room.

Back to top

Sandy Chang

Freshman Intern

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!

Back to top

Paul Iona

Administrative Associate

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)!

Back to top

Jason Jia

Speaker Series Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

To better understand and serve the Asian American community

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Attend Speaker Series =)

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Work hard, play harder

Back to top

Gea Kang

CommunicASIANS Layout Editor

Why you joined the A³C

To become a more active member of the Asian American community, to invite more people to that community, and to help share that community with other communities

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Global Human Geography; Alternative Spring Break

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

As my high school English teacher used to say: breathe.

Back to top

Lan Le

AIM Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

During Admit weekend, I had trouble adjusting to a big campus and being away from people I know. My admit weekend experience was so terrible, I was almost not going to enroll. But at an event put on by the A3C staff, I met students who shared my experiences and made me feel at home. Because of them, I wanted to be a part of the A3C where I could have the similar responsibility of making the campus a welcoming environment for all students, especially those who may feel out of place as I did.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Stanford in Washington

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Advice 1: Continue to explore all that Stanford has to offer and participate in a range of activities. You may or may not find out what you love to study and devote your life to, but at least you’ll know what you don’t like. Advice 2: E-mail me and we’ll chat.

Back to top

Eunice Lee

After Dark Series Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

I wanted to get more involved in the Asian American community at Stanford and to help build a stronger support network for Asian American students. Getting involved at the A³C has really allowed me to play an active role in community building and has given me insight into Asian American student groups, leaders and faculty on campus.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

I really enjoyed my computer science introseminar, Business on the Information Highways. And it gets rid of the PWR2 requirement!

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Try new extracurricular activities and give yourself time to learn what you really enjoy doing.

Back to top

Jason Lee

Speaker Series Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

My Korean-American identity has always been very important to me in my life. Being Korean American goes hand in hand with being Asian American. I joined the A3C so that I could keep myself plugged into the Asian American community. By working at the A3C I serve this Asian community and learn more and more about myself as an Asian American.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Join a student group and make it better.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Always take the time to try something new.

Back to top

Melissa Luu

Community Building & Major Events Coordinator

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!

Back to top

Adam Katxhi Moua

Webmaster

Why you joined the A³C

I wanted to get more involved with the Asian American community.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

ASB (Alternative Spring Break)

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Try to join at least one student group, be it AASA (Asian American Students’ Association) or HSU (Hmong Student Union). You’ll have a ton of fun! But don’t be like me and over-commit yourself and then end up working nonstop. Of course, too much work can sometime be fun as well!

Back to top

Mai Nguyen

Administrative Assistant

Why you joined the A³C

Back at home, I was not in touch with my Asian culture. Not only has the A3C given me the opportunity to re-connect with my Vietnamese side, but it has also helped me learn more about other API cultures.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Rebellious Daughters and Filial Sons of the Chinese Family (more affectionally dubbed as “Chinese IHUM”) - helped me to understand why my parents act the way they do.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

You are young so HAVE FUN!

Back to top

Christian Ollano

Administrative Assistant

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!

Back to top

Huy Phan

Speaker Series Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

I joined the A3C staff because I saw it as an opportunity to interact with the diverse community of people here at Stanford. The A3C was a good way for me to get involved with the Asian American community here at Stanford. I wanted to be a part of it.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Before leaving, take an Introductory Seminar that really suits your interest. Introductory seminars are great ways to get to know your professor and your fellow peers in class. Also, you get to do a lot of what you love to do. Also, if you have a chance, try and study abroad. It gives you a unique experience that will make your college education here worthwhile.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Time management and extracurricular activities are essential to a successful college education. Time management really makes a difference in college. With good time management, anything is possible. Extracurricular activities are important because they are stress-relievers. Those activities give you something to do to relax and enjoy life away from academics. It also gets you involved with other people in the community and acts as a sort of friendship builder for incoming students.

Back to top

Quynh Phan

Community Building Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Back to top

Andrew Pipathsouk

Facilities Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

I wanted to be more involved in the Asian Community

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

ME101/ME203 - these classes are a lot of work, but tons of fun if you’re into creativity and building stuff

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Balance is key.

Back to top

Lilian Thaoxaochay

Administrative Assistant

Why you joined the A³C

So, I’m actually new to staff as a junior–one of many this year actually. But what encouraged me to finally apply was the opportunity to work at a different level and in a new capacity for the A3C space that I had previously called home and used for various other student organizations. Also, working in the A3C gives me the chance to explore what real work in the real world could possibly be like. :]

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Talk to me.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Don’t ever just do something because it will look good on your resume or because its what is expected of you. Do what you like, do what you love and be happy that you’re at Stanford. You only get one shot at life, at an undergraduate career, make the best of it and explore. Take fun classes. Study anthropology! <3

Back to top

Adam Wang

Graduate Student Services Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

To be a resource for the graduate community

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Social Dance

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Keep an open mind.

Back to top

Bobby Wei

Freshman Intern

Why you joined the A³C

The A3C is where it’s happenin’; Lives of Asian Americans are being changed by staff members who are the heads of various ethnic and activism groups on campus. As a frosh intern, in several years, we will in turn be able to fill up the shoes of today’s upperclassmen leaders. To commit to the A3C is to directly or indirectly make a positive impact upon someone else’s life.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

Bing Overseas-Study Program to Beijing or Berlin or London or Aussie

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

A bottle of Febreeze is essential to a pleasant dorm room.

top

James Xie

IT Services Coordinator

Why you joined the A³C

I wanted to serve the Stanford community - and what better way to do that than to get involved with the A3C?

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

STANFORD IN WASHINGTON.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

GO TO STANFORD IN WASHINGTON.

Back to top

Chia Xiong

Freshman Intern

Why you joined the A³C

I wanted to become more involved in the Asian American Activities on campus and become a part of family here at Stanford.

One class/program to participate in before leaving Stanford

I want to study abroad in Berlin, Germany before leaving Stanford.

Advice to Frosh/anyone on campus

Stanford’s the best. Study hard and Play hard.

top

Victoria Yee

Freshman Intern

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!

Back to top