Media Advisory for Tuesday, September 26, 1:06 to 1:35 pm
RSVP to Linda.Pacheco@qc.cuny.edu
Nasser Paydar, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, to Visit Queens College in Support of President Biden’s First-Ever Proclamation Designating September 25 through October 1 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week
—Queens College hosts the AANAPISI Project, aimed supporting the college’s diverse and underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student population—
What: Queens College will host Nasser Paydar, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education—the highest-ranking federal higher education official—in support of President Joseph Biden’s first-ever proclamation designating September 25 through October 1 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week. Paydar selected the college for a site visit to highlight the administration’s effort to strengthen AANAPISI institutions and support the nation’s Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. As an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–serving institution, Queens College hosts the QC AANAPISI Project (QCAP), aimed at supporting the college’s diverse and underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student population.
Paydar and other federal officials will tour the campus and meet with President Frank H. Wu and college officials to discuss federal support for AANAPISIs, affordability and student retention initiatives, maintaining multiple minority-serving institution (MSI) statuses, and student mental health challenges and support services. Discussions with students will address belonging and inclusion, first-generation student status, English as a Second Language, and mental health.
Who: Paydar is expected to be accompanied by Stephen Lamb, special assistant, U.S. Department of Education; Phil Kim, senior advisor, the White House; Erika Moritsugu, deputy assistant to the president and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders senior liaison, the White House; Ting Wu, special advisor to the chief of staff for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders, the White House; and Erika Ninoyu, senior advisor, White House Initiative on AANHPIs.
When: Officials will be available to the press from 1:06 to 1:35 pm.
Where: Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing NY 11367
Student Union Faculty and Staff Lounge
Directions | Campus Map
Background:
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) are defined under the Higher Education Act (HEA) as colleges or universities with an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 10 per cent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander. Queens College hosts the AANAPISI Project, aimed at supporting the college’s diverse and underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student population. Among its student services are multilingual tutoring in collaboration with the college’s writing center and opportunities for experiential learning, leadership, and mentoring through internships with local AAPI organizations. There are also workshops in support of faculty designed to strengthen understanding of local AAPI histories and issues and in developing AAPI–focused course content and culturally sustaining, antiracist pedagogies.
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