Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education Conference to Include Focus on Virginia Tech Tragedy and Student Mental Health Issues
Apr 24
I’m on a May 4 panel titled APA Student Mental Health Issues & Related Media Concerns, which takes place during the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education 20th anniversary conference in Oakland.
I’ll be presenting with Elizabeth Gong-Guy (Director of Student Psychological Services, UCLA), Nan Senzaki (Psychologist, UC Davis Counseling & Psychological Services), Prof. Nolan Zane of UC Davis and Naomi Sakai (Coordinator, UC Davis Counseling & Psychological Services).
In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech killings, our panel will address what campus faculty, staff and students can and should do when responding to distressed or potentially dangerous students. I’ll be focusing on the challenges facing the Asian Pacific American community by the media spotlight on this tragedy.
The APAHE conference runs May 3-5 at Laney College.
The conference theme, Going Back to Our Roots—A 20th Anniversary Celebration of Activism and Empowerment, reflects APAHE’s leading role in addressing issues that affect Asian Pacific Americans in higher education, said APAHE president Frank Chong, who also serves as president of Laney College.
“Students’ safety and well-being, university admissions, faculty tenure cases, under-representation in hiring and promotion, affirmative action, and Asian American Studies continue to be pressing issues for our communities,” said President Chong. “APAHE is the leading national organization to address these concerns.”
Tracing the historical roots of APAHE will be featured speakers Professor Emeritus of Cal Berkeley Ling-chi Wang and San Francisco Superior Court Judge Lillian Sing during the opening afternoon plenary. A college presidents panel will include President Chui Tsang of Santa Monica College, President Mohammad “Mo” Qayoumi of Cal State East Bay and Laney College President Frank Chong.
The Friday evening reception will honor the new Chancellor of the University of California, Merced campus, Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang. Also speaking Friday evening will be Assemblymember Alberto Torrico, the chair of the Calfiornia Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
The conference is co-sponsored by Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP), a national nonprofit that provides leadership training, publishes public policy research and organizes efforts to increase community empowerment.
Visit www.apahe.net for more information.
