Queens College Announces Historic $1.175 Million New York State Investment in the City University of New York Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI), Housed at the College
Funding will expand AAARI’s capacity as a statewide research, policy, and community resource for Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers
Flushing, N.Y., June 17, 2026—Queens College President Frank H. Wu has announced that the City University of New York (CUNY) Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI), housed at Queens College and serving all of CUNY, has received $1,175,000 in funding in the fiscal year 2027 New York State budget.
The new investment represents a major increase in state support for AAARI and strengthens New York’s research, policy, and educational infrastructure for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
AAARI is CUNY’s university-wide research and resource institute focused on issues affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across New York City and New York State. Founded 25 years ago, AAARI connects academic research, public policy, education, and community knowledge to support informed, inclusive, and equitable policymaking.
“This historic investment recognizes the vital role that AAARI plays at CUNY and across New York State,” said Wu. “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest-growing and most diverse communities in New York, and AAARI provides the research, public engagement, and community connections needed to better understand and serve them. Queens College is proud to be AAARI’s home, and we are deeply grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, Assemblymember Grace Lee, Senator John Liu, the New York State Assembly’s Asian Pacific American Task Force, and the Legislature for their leadership and advocacy.”
The funding will allow AAARI to expand its role as a statewide resource for data, research, policy analysis, education, and public engagement. With this support, AAARI will be better positioned to provide timely information to policymakers and public agencies, strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations and educators, and support research on the needs and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) New Yorkers.
“This is a transformative moment for AAARI,” said John J. Chin, AAARI dean. “For the past 25 years, AAARI has worked to connect CUNY’s extraordinary scholarly resources with the needs, histories, and priorities of AAPI communities. This new funding brings AAARI closer to the level of sustained capacity needed to serve New York’s AAPI communities at the scale they deserve. We are profoundly grateful for the tireless advocacy of Assemblymember Grace Lee and Senator John Liu, the leadership of the Asian Pacific American Task Force in helping make this possible, and the strong advocacy of the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition’s 150-plus member organizations.”
AAARI’s current work includes the New York State AAPI Commission statewide report; the Localized History Project, a K–12 curriculum initiative focused on local AAPI histories; faculty research support awards; public lectures and convenings; the CUNY Forum, its academic journal dedicated to covering timely topics within Asian American and Asian Studies; student leadership initiatives; and partnerships with community organizations, educators, researchers, and policymakers across New York.
The investment also brings AAARI closer to parity with other major CUNY ethnic studies institutes that have developed sustained institutional capacity over time. As New York’s AAPI communities continue to grow and diversify, the expanded funding will help AAARI serve as a stable and trusted public resource for communities, government leaders, educators, journalists, researchers, and the broader public.
About Queens College
Queens College enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional programs. With nearly 70 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate degree and certificate and honors programs, and research and internship opportunities, the college helps its students realize their potential in countless ways, assisted by an accessible, award-winning faculty. Located on a beautiful, 80-acre campus in Flushing, New York, the college has been cited by Princeton Review as one of America’s Best Value Colleges, as well as being ranked eighth as a Forbes College with the Highest Return on Investment for Graduates Nationwide, and sixth as a Wall Street Journal Best Value College Nationwide, thanks to its outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages, and relatively low costs. Princeton Review has designated QC a Best College for 34 consecutive years—since the guide’s inception. Forbes Magazine, Money Magazine, Princeton Review, and U.S. News and World Report recognize it as an overall top northeastern public college. Visit our homepage to learn more.
About the CUNY Asian American/Asian Research Institute
The CUNY Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI), housed at Queens College, is CUNY’s university-wide research and resource institute focused on issues affecting Asian American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities across New York City and New York State. AAARI connects academic research, community knowledge, education, and public policy to support informed, inclusive, and equitable policymaking.
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