Asian/Pacific Islander (API), Middle Eastern (ME) Graduation

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Wednesday, May 17, 2023  | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Ballrooms B, C, D

Asian/Pacific Islander (API) and Middle Eastern (ME) Graduation is an annual celebration to commemorate the graduation success and achievements of API/ME identified graduating students along with honoring staff, and faculty that have contributed work, community, and service to the Asian/American Desi American Pacific Islander* and Middle Eastern communities at SSU. ​

*This is an acknowledgement that the API name is very limited to the breadth of the unique and vast ethnicities and cultures of the Asian countries and Diaspora, which includes but not limited to: Pacific Islander, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Desi, Desi American, Southwest Asian, Asian, Asian American, Multiracial, Multiethnic, Multinational, Transnational Adoptees, and more.

PROGRAM AGENDA

Student Processional

Welcome and Land Acknowledgment

Alvin Nguyen, Director of Transfer Center

Greetings from SSU Leadership

Monir Ahmed, Vice President for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Greetings from Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty Staff Association (APIAFSA)

Khou Yang-Vigil, Director of Equity and Access Programs

Asian Pacific Islander/Middle Eastern Graduation Student Speaker

Jaiden Ha, Co-Founder, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Student Support Group

Presentation of 2023 Asian Pacific Islander/Middle Eastern Graduates

Christina Thao, Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Lead

Keynote Address

Lehuanani Taitano Hammoudeh, Chamoru Poet

Closing Remarks

Charlene Tung, Ph.D., Professor, Women's and Gender Studies

Special thanks: Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, The HUB Cultural Center, SSU Alumni Association, Campus Prints, Conference & Event Services