On November 13th, the Asian American Initiative (AAI) hosted a lunch with undergraduate students and Acting Director, Prof. Qin Gao. The event brought together students from Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering, Barnard, and the School of General Studies, representing a broad range of majors including sociology, history, economics, computer science, mechanical engineering, and cognitive science. Prof. Gao emphasized that student input is central to AAI’s goal of invigorating the curriculum and positioning Columbia as the premier institution for Asian American Studies.
Students discussed the kind of programming they are interested in, the classes they would like to see offered, and what being a part of Columbia’s Asian American studies community means to them. The lunch also introduced undergraduates to upcoming opportunities within AAI, including the TAAF Summer Internship and the AAI Undergraduate Fellowship. Current AAI Fellow, Shay Stulman (BC ‘26), reflected on the impact of the role, noting that “AAI has, without a doubt, been one of the most impactful aspects of my time at Columbia, and AAI programming has helped me articulate the values I define myself by.” Victoria Afolabi, Columbia College ’27, noted, after the event, that she had “learned a lot about the historical and contemporary experiences of Asian Americans.”
Prof. Gao closed the lunch by welcoming the undergraduates into the “AAI family” and inviting them to stay engaged and participate in upcoming events hosted by AAI.
