APIDA + Center Events

Fall 2025

Drop-In Resume Review with Career and Professional Development

• Tuesday, September 2, 2025 and Friday, September 5, 2025, 1–4 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140)
• The Cultural Community Centers, in collaboration with Career and Professional Development, will offer free resume reviews for all students. Polish your resume with help from professionals from Career Development and College Relations at Virginia Tech. Stop by the APIDA + Center to prepare for the upcoming Fall career fairs. Light refreshments will be provided.

Tea at Two

• Fridays starting September 5, 2025, 2–3:30 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140)
• Searching for cozy activities? Want to make some new friends while sipping tea? This weekly collaborative program with Cook Counseling and its PALs (Peer Assistance for Learning) Team, Tea at Two, invites students to slow down and take some time to reflect and be in community with one another. Join us for journaling, paper crafts, collage, and much more! Bring your current projects to work on and slow down for self-care. Light refreshments will be provided.

Navigating Adulthood with Dr. Kevin Cheng

• Wednesday, Sep 10,2025, 12-1 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140) and Zoom
• Register for this event.
• Navigating Adulthood is a monthly financial wellness program to help build confidence for life during and after college. Through interactive workshops, group discussions, and practical resources, you’ll learn how to budget without the stress, build credit, save with intention, and plan for the future (while still enjoying today). Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your money game, this program will help you feel ready to take on the financial side of adulthood with confidence. Open to all students—because it’s never too early to invest in yourself!

The Asian American Student Union (AASU) Welcome To/Welcome Back Picnic

• Friday, September 12, 2025, 5–7 p.m.
• Location: Old Dominion Lawn between Squires and Henderson Hall / APIDA + Center (Rain Location)
• Build community and connect with new and not so new folks at the AASU's Welcome To/Welcome Back Picnic. There will be lawn games, karaoke, and refreshments! Learn about the AASU, its affiliated organizations, and so much more! Come for the food and stay for the community. This event is free and open to all.

Virtual Night-time Guided Meditation with Vivek Rajan

• Thursday, September 11, 2025, 8–9 p.m.
• Location: Zoom
• Register for this event.
• Looking for a way to increase mindfulness and practice self-care? Certified meditation teacher, Vivek Rajan, will facilitate a virtual night-time guided meditation. It is a wonderful way to care for your well-being. This event is open to all but requires prior registration.

Let's Lock In

• Monday, September 15, 2025, 4–6 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (140 Squires)
• Looking for a weekly boost to stay on track with your classes? Let's Lock In meets once a week–every Monday - to give you a dedicated time and space to focus, get support, and make real progress. Join other students in a relaxed, productive environment where academic tutors are on hand to help with coursework, and other campus resources are just a step away. Think of it like a study hall, but better: whether you're tackling tough assignments, prepping for exams, or just trying to stay organized, Let's Lock In is here to help. Drop in, get focused, and leave feeling accomplished.

Next Steps: Leveraging Your Networking Skills

• Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140) and Zoom
• Resgister for this event.
• Wondering what your next steps are after speaking with a recruiter? Nervous about following up on an opportunity? Learn tips from Career and Professional Development on strengthening your networking skills! Light refreshments provided and all students are encouraged to attend!

Mandarin Language Lunch Table

• Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140)
• Join us for the first Mandarin Chinese Lunch Table at the APIDA + Center this year! Open to all, this informal gathering is for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and community members interested in chatting in Mandarin Chinese during lunch time. Boost your communication skills, connect with others, and bring your own lunch for a friendly language experience. These sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Helen Schneider from the History Department.

Learning Lunch with Dr. Pitchayaporn (“Peach”) Tantihkarnchana

• Friday, September 26, 2025, 12–1 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140) and Zoom
• Register for this event.
• The Learning Lunch Series highlights APIDA faculty or staff at the university or community members through informal conversations about their personal and professional experiences and journeys. Dr. Pitchayaporn “Peach” Tantihkarnchana is a Collegiate Assistant Professor of Economics at Virginia Tech and is originally from Bangkok, Thailand. She earned her undergraduate degree in Economics from Chulalongkorn University, including a semester abroad at Bocconi University in Milan, and completed her graduate studies at Washington State University. Before joining Virginia Tech in Fall 2022, she began her teaching career at Pennsylvania State University. Her academic interests focus on environmental economics and international trade, and she teaches Principles of Microeconomics and First-Year Experience in Economics. Passionate about global education, she leads an annual three-week study abroad program, Economics of Tourism, exploring the economic impact of tourism, social media, and sustainability in countries such as Switzerland, Spain, Germany, and France. She has traveled to 79 countries and brings a global perspective to her teaching and research. Join us to learn more about her personal and professional journey. Light refreshments will be provided, and registration encouraged.

Multi-Heritage Support Group

• Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 4–5 p.m.
• Location: APIDA + Center (Squires 140) and Zoom
• Register for this event.
• Please join us for the Multi-Heritage Support Group. This support group led by Dr. Julie Chandler from Cook Counseling Center uses the experiences of students with multiple racial/ethnic identities as a lens for everyone to think about their own identity development. The group is open to all students. This meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences, provide support, and learn from one another. Light refreshments will be provided.