Celebrating APIDA Heritage Month
Dear DU community,
Recognizing and honoring DU’s diverse community is an important part of our collective identity. This May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month.
In honoring the contributions of Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Americans, we also acknowledge the lived experiences of members of these communities, both in the past and today. This includes deeply meaningful accomplishments, vibrant cultural contributions and, unfortunately, challenges in the face of hate, violence and racism—the likes of which we have seen a dramatic rise in recent months.
As we uplift intersectional identities during Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American Heritage Month, we celebrate the contributions of those who have made an impact on our society and culture. We use this month to think of contributions like those of civil rights activist and Denver community leader Minoru Yasui, who challenged Japanese American internment in the U.S. Supreme Court. When we think of the revolution of online education and tutoring, we recognize Sal Khan, creator of Khan Academy and Schoolhouse.world. Asian and Pacific American athletes, such as two-time Olympic medalist and DU alumna, Michelle Kwan, as well as NCAA Division I swimmer and LGBTQ+ activist, Schuyler Bailar, impress us with their excellence. Stories come to life on screen because of the creativity and artistry of Chloé Zhao, an award-winning Chinese-American filmmaker. And as we consider the amazing accomplishments in our own Colorado community, we recognize DU alumna Shauna Medeiros-Tuilaepa, chair of the Denver Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission and owner/operator of No Ke Aloha, a local Hawaiian and Polynesian restaurant.
Earlier this month, to hear from our own community members, the Heritage Months Initiative, in partnership with Community + Values, hosted a panel titled Asian American, Pacific Islander and Desi American: A Collective of Whose Convenience? You can view the recording of the event on the University’s YouTube channel. The panelists discussed the tensions that emerge as Asian and Pacific American communities organize pan-ethnic coalitions while simultaneously celebrating the diversity of their individual ethnic histories, heritages and traditions. We urge you to watch the event to hear the stories of struggle and success, invisibility and hyper-awareness, operating in the margins and belonging.
As we conclude Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month, we want to emphasize that, as part of our ongoing dedication to the public good, we will continue to build a community and culture that uplifts, celebrates, and recognizes the strength and beauty of our diverse community. And we want to express appreciation, empathy and reverence for our Asian and Pacific American community members. Your contributions make the DU community a better place to learn, live and work.
In solidarity,
Jeremy Haefner, chancellor
Mary Clark, provost and executive vice chancellor
Todd Adams, vice chancellor of student affairs
Leslie Brunelli, senior vice chancellor for business and financial affairs
Paul Chan, vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel
Vivek Choudhury, dean, Daniels College of Business
Karlton Creech, vice chancellor for athletics, recreation and Ritchie Center operations
Andrei Kutateladze, dean, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Michael Levine-Clark, dean, University Libraries
Jerron Lowe, interim vice chancellor for human resources
Fritz Mayer, dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Amanda McBride, dean, Graduate School of Social Work
Michael McGuire, dean, University College
Daniel McIntosh, dean, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Renea Morris, vice chancellor for marketing and communications
Nancy Nicely, senior vice chancellor and chief of staff
Stephanie O’Malley, associate vice chancellor for government and community relations
Valerie Otten, vice chancellor for university advancement
Todd Rinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment
Michelle Sabick, dean, Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Scienc
Bruce Smith, dean, Sturm College of Law
Shelly Smith-Acuña, dean, Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Gary Starling, interim vice chancellor and chief information technology officer
Bruce Uhrmacher, interim dean, Morgridge College of Education
Christopher Whitt, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion
AAPIDA: A Collective of Whose Convenience?
Join us for a Heritage Months initiative in partnership with C+V
How does one combine some of the largest populations in the world into a collective and celebrate their individual histories and traditions in a single month? That is the challenge of AAPIDA Heritage month, that celebrates, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Heritage together. While some of these populations are immigrants who moved to America and brought their identity and culture with them, others are indigenous to lands that were colonized by westward expansion into the Pacific. Join us to hear the stories of struggle and success; invisibility and hyper-awareness; operating in the margins and belonging.
This event took place on Thursday, May 13, 2021 | 11:00 a.m.-noon
Visit the Heritage Months Website
The University of Denver is committed to living our values of diversity and inclusion. Our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni.
With that shared value in mind and in partnership with Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), The Cultural Center, and the Staff of Color Association (SOCA), we will celebrate the identities and histories of members of the DU and world communities. Each month we will feature a staff or faculty member and a student in recognition of each heritage month, along with an event to honor one another and learn about our unique differences.
Propose a Program or Highlight a DU Community Member for Heritage Months
The University of Denver is committed to living our values of diversity and inclusion. We recognize that our community and institutional success is dependent on how well we engage and embrace the rich diversity of our faculty, staff, administrators, students, and alumni. With that shared value in mind, throughout this academic year, we plan to publish a series of articles to celebrate cultural and ethnic heritage months. In partnership with Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HRIC), the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), The Cultural Center, Community + Values (C+V), and the Staff of Color Association (SOCA), we will feature a staff or faculty member and a student in recognition of each heritage month, along with an event to honor one another and learn about our unique differences.
Also, if you are aware of any events that are happening on campus or have an idea for Heritage Month events, we'd love to hear about them and promote them campus-wide.