In 1989, the Asian American Cultural Association (AACA) was established with the mission to promote Asian American Heritage through cultural presentations and activities and to raise and discuss Asian and minority-related issues. Shortly after their formation, a group of AACA members met to discuss the prevalence of the “model minority myth” on the UA campus. These discussions eventually resulted in a student-run protest to raise awareness led by student Jason Wong.

In 1992, AACA submitted a proposal to UA President, Dr. Manuel Pacheco, calling for an Asian Pacific American/Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center and on March 8, 1993 The University of Arizona officially granted the student activists space in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Building, a student staff and approximately $2,000 for the operation of the center.

From these humble beginnings, Asian Pacific American Student Affairs (APASA) has grown into a vibrant and dynamic Cultural Center meeting the needs of East/Southeast Asian American, Pacific Islander American and Desi, or South Asian, American students. Since its inception, APASA has gained much support from UA departments, the Southern Arizona Asian community, faculty, alumni, staff, and students -- all of whom helped shape APASA into what it is today. Currently APASA is housed within a 1,652 square foot Student Center located in the Robert L. Nugent Building in the heart of campus. We are staffed by a full-time, professional Director and Senior Retention Coordinator, a Graduate Assistant focused on outreach, a Student Board of Directors and up to three student workers. Additionally, APASA reaches out to a myriad of student clubs and organizations who serve the APA population and provides leadership development, opportunities to collaborate through the APASA Club Council, and offers an alternative place to meet on campus.




“In a lot of ways, Asian Americans have done remarkably well in achieving ‘the American dream’ of getting a good education, working at a good job, and earning a good living. So much so that the image many have of Asian Americans is that we are the ‘model minority’ -- a bright, shining example of hard work and patience whose example other minority groups should follow. However, the practical reality is slightly more complicated than that...” (Asian-Nation.org)