Virginia Tech®home

Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month

A student performing at the Fall 2022 Asian Culture Show. (Photo by Melissa Ripepi.)

Recognized nationally in 1992, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. during the month of May to provide educational and entertainment-based programs relevant to Asian Pacific Islander Desi cultures. During the academic calendar, Virginia Tech celebrates Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month during the month of April.

2023 Events

April 3  |  12pm     Angry Out Loud, The Bodily Autonomy Edition - Undergraduate Students 

Dr. LaTasha Sarpy is a Professor of Sociology at Bunker Hill Community College. In addition to teaching, Dr. Sarpy works on multiple initiatives inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Sarpy served as the Faculty Liaison for the Museum of African American History and is a founding member of the Center for Equity and Cultural Wealth. Dr. Sarpy is a founding board member of the JAR, with a mission to transform how the community engages in culture.

Dr. Sarpy will provide strategies for managing issues related to anger using the perspectives of undergraduate student experiences. However, ALL community members are welcome.

Location: Black Cultural Center, 126 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 3  |  4pm     APIDA Mental Health Support Group 

Co-Sponsors: Hokie Wellness, ACEC, Cook Counseling

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 3  |  5:30pm      Angry Out Loud, The Bodily Autonomy Edition - Graduate Students

In this session, Dr. Sarpy will provide strategies for managing issues related to anger using the perspectives of graduate student experiences. However, ALL community members are welcome.

Location: Black Cultural Center, 126 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 4  |  12pm      Angry Out Loud, The Bodily Autonomy Edition - Faculty & Staff

In this session, Dr. Sarpy will provide strategies for managing issues related to anger using the perspectives of faculty and staff experiences. However, ALL community members are welcome.

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 4  |  5:30pm      Angry Out Loud, The Bodily Autonomy Edition - Minoritized, Underrepresented, and/or Underserved Communities

In this session, Dr. Sarpy will provide strategies for managing issues related to anger using the perspectives of minoritized, underrepresented, and/or underserved community experiences. However, ALL community members are welcome.

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 11  |  5pm     DACA Experiences from APIDA backgrounds with El Centro and JMU/VT Honors Colleges

Stories about APIDAs who are DACA with Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya and Dr. Felix Wang. 

Dr. Montoya is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion and External Engagement for the James Madison University Honors College. Dr. Montoya is Professor of History and an affiliate faculty member in Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies, and Africana, African-American and Diaspora Studies.

Dr. Wang is the Assistant Dean of the Honors College. As assistant Dean, Dr. Wang teaches Global Studies and Leadership Honors seminars and provides leadership in global initiatives for the college. Prior to joining the Honors College, Dr. Wang was the Senior Associate Executive Director for Center for Global Engagement at James Madison University and provided leadership in collaboration and outreach in global partnerships.

Location: Honors College Studio, Squires Student Center (on Old Dominion Lawn side); Virtual


April 13  |  12pm     APIDAs in Public Service

A live panel and webinar about APIDAs in public service. 

The panel will include: Suhas Subramanyam, member of the House of Delegates, Virginia's 87th District;  Ghazala Hashmi, State Senator, Virginia's 10th District; Kathy Tran, member of the House of Delegates, Virginia's 42nd District; Eric Lin, Principal of VIE Group, a business development and real estate consulting firm in Richmond, Virginia; Irene Shin, member of the House of Delegates, Virginia's 86th District; Temujin Choijilsuren, undergraduate student in Political Science; Jaclyn Marmol, Staff Aide with Fairfax County School Board.

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 17  |  12pm     APIDA Men's Support Group

Please join us for the APIDA Men's Support Group and discuss about "Stress Management." This meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences, provide support, and learn from one another. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 18  |  1:00pm     APIDAs and Adoption Panel

The panel discussion will feature: Eve Coleman, graduate student in Sociology; Tiffany Drape, Assistant Professor in Agricultural Leadership and Community Education; Erin Boyle, graduate student in Sociology; Tai Ji-Yang Weinsteiger (they/them), second-year student in Architecture. 

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 18  |  5:30pm     APIDAs Queer, Questioning, & Allies Support Group

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 19  |  6:30pm     Screening with the LGBTQ+ Resouce Center and University Libraries: Everything, Everywhere, all at Once

Location: TBD


April 20  |  8:00pm     Nighttime Guided Meditation

Location: Virtual


April 21  |  12pm     APIDAs in Public Health

A webinar about APIDA experiences in public health.

The program will feature a panel with invited guests working in the field of public health including: Sophie Bao-Chieu, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Health Behavior, UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health; Tammy Chen, Research Fellow, Molecular Parasitology Section and Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Joanne Williams, Director of Student Engagement Office of Student Affairs, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health; Deborah W. Carlier, Public Health Management Consultant; and Dr. Eileen Yam, Director of International Health, Mathematica. 

Location: Virtual


April 25  |  5pm     Undergraduate InspirASIAN Series

Join us to hear graduating students from various majors talk about their experiences at Virginia Tech and what they're currently working on as seniors. Light refreshments will be provided.

Speakers include: Crystal Lee (Computational Modeling and Data Analytics with concentration in Cryptography and Cybersecurity); Sophia Eliza Andrion (Microbiology with a minor in Psychology); Brendan Huang (Clinical Neuroscience with a minor in Asian Studies); Thrilok Shivaraman (Computer Science); and Samantha Shim (Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. 

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center; Virtual


April 28  |  All Day     APIDAHM Collaboration with Owens Dining

Location: Owens Dining Hall


April 28  |  7pm     AASU Guest Speaker

Location: ACEC, 140 Squires Student Center

If you need accommodations or have any questions for any event, please contact Dr. Nina Ha at nha@vt.edu.