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Asian Americans have long been left out of our national narrative. More than half of Americans cannot name a famous Asian American or identify a significant event or policy related to Asian Americans. The invisibility of Asians in the American imagination is a reflection of the invisibility of Asian Americans in our curricula. Only two percent of four-year U.S. colleges and universities have a program in Asian American Studies. Yet the American project cannot be fully or accurately understood without Asian American narratives.

The Asian American Initiative (AAI) aims to remedy these omissions by making the experiences of Asian Americans central to our understanding of America. Leveraging Columbia’s extraordinary convening power to stimulate research and foster interdisciplinary dialogue, Columbia will create the premier program in Asian American Studies.

Our Vision and Mission

• Promote evidenced-based research on the study of Asian Americans 
• Raise awareness of Asian Americans in our national narrative
• Change the public and policy framework in which we view Asian Americans
• Forge a strong sense of belonging, confidence, and pride

Our Strategic Plan

A new Research Institute will anchor Asian American Studies at Columbia, creating a vibrant hub for data and research, innovative curriculum development, student engagement, and interdisciplinary discourse. New faculty, supported by curriculum development grants, will allow us to develop a series of innovative courses and develop a robust a Minor in Asian American Studies. The Initiative will also provide new research grants and student internships with Asian American organizations to stimulate pioneering research and sustain a community focused on Asian American Studies. Moreover, we will bring the Initiative’s vital work beyond the bounds of the University through the creation of a high-profile speaker series, Visiting Scholars, and public-facing programs and partnerships.

Our Philosophy: Data, Narrative, and Action (DNA)

Columbia’s Asian American Initiative is guided by a philosophy of Data, Narrative, and Action (DNA). Leading with data and research, AAI aims to reshape public and policy perceptions of Asian Americans and make the narratives of Asian Americans central to our understanding of America. The philosophy will inform the four key components that will build the field—pioneering research, faculty and teaching, student support, and public and policy impact. By building the field of Asian American Studies, AAI will invigorate Columbia’s curriculum and position Columbia as the premier institution for Asian American Studies.