As we approach the year 2020, we envision three R’s that shape our important leadership work as Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education—Representation, Resilience and Revolution.

It matters that APA voices are heard throughout the many influential spaces that shape our society. In this hotly contested election year, and despite growing APA populations, APA voices and concerns are rarely heard in political campaigns. It matters that APA issues–or our opinions on these issues–are prioritized by lawmakers and politicians, and that these leaders employ systematic efforts to engage APAs. It matters that we hear APA stories and see APAs as lead actors in Hollywood. It matters that we see more APAs leading our institutions of higher education.

Often seen as one of our strengths, resilience within APAs has been likened to bamboo—strong but flexible. How can we use our resilience to feel empowered for change? How can our unbending loyalty to and reverence for higher education persist in an environment that has systematically excluded APAs and our stories from curricula, student services, and leadership opportunities?

How can we champion activity or movement designed to effect fundamental change to improve the lives of APAs? How can we revolutionize the ways in which APAs achieve leadership positions within the higher education landscape? How can this change fundamentally improve the way people are educated? How will it enable others to play a more active role in their communities and to prepare them to make the most of their lifelong-learning and leadership opportunities.

Knowledge and approaches to bridge and build communities within and across
groups

Strategies to build coalitions that will challenge the status quo fundamentally and
generate signification change in the educational and leadership landscape for APA’s

2) EQUITY, STUDENT SUCCESS & SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Information sharing on AANAPISI or other grant-funded programs (e.g., best
practices, how to develop proposals and programs, creative braiding of resources)

Exemplary programs and models that support access and success for culturally
diverse, traditionally underrepresented populations in higher education
(e.g., services to LGBT communities, Pacific Islanders)

3) ETHNIC IDENTITY, EMPOWERMENT & ADVOCACY

Celebrating our API heritage, embracing our culture in our work and empowering
others to take their place “at the table”

Programs and curricula that create more inclusive higher education
environments, improve campus racial and ethnic relations, and expand opportunities
for educational access and success for historically underrepresented groups
in higher education

4) LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Advancement, networking, career readiness and navigating the workplace as APIs

Constructive dialogue, interaction, understanding and action around professional
challenges or within/between constituencies (i.e. racial/ethnic groups, student affairs
and academic affairs, early and advanced professionals, students and faculty, and
institution types)

5) LEGISLATION, POLICY, & RESEARCH

Legal, political or community advocacy that tells our stories and challenges, increases
our voice and representation and protects our human rights.

Use of technology and the communication of data to support our work

Panel (60 minutes)
The panel format is best suited for formal presentations and structured discussions. Panelists should be qualified presenters with expertise in the subject. Submission should be no more than 750 words, including title of panel, learning outcomes (implications to APIAs in higher education), and relevance to overall conference theme.

Workshops (60 minutes)
This format is best suited for discussion on a specific topic and engaging the audience in an informal setting. Workshops will have no more than ONE/TWO presenters. Submission should be no more than 300 words including title, topic or area of discussion, learning outcomes (implications to APIAs in higher education), and relevance to overall conference theme.

Poster (60 minutes)
The poster format should be used to showcase an individual project and is best suited for informal discussion, engaging the audience for feedback and comments related to the project. Posters will have no more than ONE/TWO presenters. Submission should be no more than 300 words including title, topic or area of discussion, and relevance to overall conference theme. Poster showcase may be located in open areas adjacent to other poster presenters.