John J. Chin Appointed Dean of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute, Which Reports to Queens College
—Chin, who has served as interim dean since September 2024, to supervise day-to-day functioning of the CUNY-wide institute—which focuses on issues that are relevant to Asia, Asian America, and other Asian diasporas—and provide vision and guidance—
Flushing, NY, August 12, 2025—John J. Chin has been appointed dean of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI). Chin has served as interim dean of the institute since September 2024. AAARI is a CUNY-wide entity reporting to Queens College whose mission is to facilitate and disseminate research, scholarship, and educational materials on issues that are relevant to Asia, Asian America, and other Asian diasporas, including timely concerns pertaining to New York’s diverse communities of Asian descent. It is located at 25 West 43rd Street in Manhattan.
As dean, Chin will supervise the day-to-day functioning of the institute while providing the vision and guidance to ensure its visibility, viability, and leadership in Asian American/Asian studies, scholarship, advocacy, and outreach. He will report to Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Price.
“AAARI is an intellectual hub that serves as a bridge between CUNY and Asian American/Asian communities in New York City and beyond, it is well-positioned to serve as the premier institute of its kind in the Northeast,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “John will be an exemplary steward of its mission, particularly as it relates to immigrant-led community advocacy and public policy affecting immigrant worker health. His leadership will also be vital as AAARI helps to support the implementation of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history curriculum in New York City schools, recently made possible by funding from the New York City Council. We are especially grateful for funding provided by the New York State Assembly and Senate to further advance the overall work underway.”
Chin, who resides in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, came to Queens College from Hunter College, where he was a professor and department chair in the Department of Urban Policy and Planning.
“We are thrilled that John Chin will take the helm of AAARI on a permanent basis,” said Price. “I am confident that, under his leadership, AAARI will continue to grow in its research profile, deepen the ties to the diverse communities it serves, and expand its central role in bringing together scholars and students across CUNY.”
Chin’s research focuses on access to social and health services for underserved urban communities, particularly Asian immigrant communities. His National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research has examined the role of Asian immigrant-led community institutions in delivering HIV-prevention and stigma-reduction messages to their constituents. He recently completed an NIH-funded study of HIV risk, working conditions, and experiences with law enforcement for Asian immigrant women working in massage parlors in New York City and Los Angeles County. Chin has served as principal investigator on research projects totaling more than $6 million in funding. He was most recently the principal investigator of the Hunter College AANAPISI Project (HCAP), funded through two grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as dean of AAARI and to help carry forward its mission at this critical time,” said Chin. “As a CUNY-wide institute, AAARI is uniquely positioned to elevate scholarship, inform public policy, and strengthen ties between the university and Asian American and Asian diasporic communities. I look forward to building on the institute’s legacy while expanding its role as a leader in education, research, and advocacy—both within CUNY and across New York State.”
Chin was a member of the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council and is currently the chair of the National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Scholars Program. Prior to his academic career, he helped found the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (now a federally qualified health center known as Apicha Community Health Center, with locations in Manhattan and Queens), where he served as deputy executive director. Chin also worked in the NYC Office of the Comptroller and the NYC Commission on Human Rights. He earned a BA from Cornell University, an MS in Urban Policy Analysis from the New School for Social Research, and a PhD in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
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