AAS Alumni Network
Background
Asian American Studies (AAS) was one of the Ethnic Studies fields born in 1968 from the Civil Rights Movement, Third World Liberation Front, the anti-War movement, and in solidarity with multiple oppressed communities. The Asian American Studies Movement at San Jose State was founded in Fall 1970 on the heels of these cross-racial movements through faculty, staff, student, and community agitation and mobilization. This program represented the culmination of the concerted efforts of many Asian American students at what was then San Jose State College. If there is any one creed agreed on by all those participating in the program, it is that the program continued to welcome the support of and active participation of any and all members of the college community.
2023 AAS Alumni Reunion
Mission
The AAS Alumni Network seeks to promote and support the educational, professional, and community-based development of Asian American Studies students at San Jose State University. JOIN NOW!
Goals
Build and maintain connections between the AAS Program and the local San Jose community—honoring the “Serve the People” roots and mentality in the founding of AAS
Strengthen student-alumni relationships by providing opportunities for social and professional development and mentorship for alumni and current students
Advocate for funding and resources for the AAS Program and Asian Pacific American students
Encourage the hiring, promotion, and retention of AAS faculty
Keep members informed about events, activities, and affairs related to AAS and Asian Pacific American students at San Jose State University
Convene gatherings, programming, and conferences that address issues of interest and concern for SJSU AAS and Asian Pacific Americans in the San Jose region
Fundraise for student scholarships, programming, and alumni awards
Membership in the AAS Alumni Network will not be formally exclusive to SJSU AAS alumni, but our primary outreach will directly prioritize and center AAS graduates from the minor program and from AAS classes. Membership for non-SJSU AAS alumni will be reviewed by the network board on a case by case basis. While our current members are not involved with or aware of other AAS alumni networks, we are not opposed to partnering with other AAS alumni networks, particularly if there are groups in the CSU that could further bolster our vision of supporting community-centered activism and outreach.
Ultimately, we believe our proposed network is a seamless complement to the alumni association's aims of increasing affinity, expanding membership, and fostering pride and loyalty at SJSU. Many of our founding members hold multiple degrees from SJSU and as a group, we exhibit and exude the pride in the institution that the alumni association desires. While our primary goal is to connect and collaborate with AAS alumni to build community, mentorship, and belonging, a secondary goal is to promote the excellence of SJSU as an institution of transformation and personal growth. We believe the alumni association can help us reach our goals by providing formal legitimacy, structure, and an expansive network to share and highlight the contributions of our alumni in AAS. Similarly, we believe we can support the alumni association goals of increasing membership and fostering pride in the university by elevating alumni accomplishments and contributions in educational practice and policy. We are optimistic and eager to begin our partnership and we thank you for the work that you do on an ongoing basis.
SJ Japantown Nihonmachi Outreach Committee Day of Remembrance 2024