Asian American Studies Program Celebrates 20 Years

On April 24, 2025, the Asian American Studies Program hosted a celebration in Pillsbury Hall’s charming attic space to recognize its founding in 2004.

The evening began with contemplative practice with Tenzin Namdul, PhD (BA ’11, anthropology), director of the Tibetan Healing Initiative, and welcoming remarks by the Asian American Studies Program Director Kale B. Fajardo.

Professor Jo Lee Received Lifetime Achievement Award

Highlights of the evening included presentation of the Asian American Studies Program Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Josephine Lee for her academic achievements and her role as a founder of the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Professor Lee is a faculty member both in the Asian American Studies Program and the Department of English. The award was presented by Professor Erika Lee (Harvard University). She is a former faculty member of the Asian American Studies Program, the Department of History, as well as the former director of the Immigrant History Research Center.

“Asian American Studies allowed me to bring my whole self into work and for that I’m incredibly grateful, and I hope that legacy goes on,” said Professor Josephine Lee.

Country/bluegrass band The Gated Community, started by Sumanth Gopinath, performed at the event.

Professor Lee’s family also attended the event, including her son who was not able to attend but provided a prerecorded performance of a Sérgio Assad’s Menino for Two Guitars & Cello.

Wing Young Huie Received Community Award

UMN art professor Pao Houa Her presented Minnesota photographer Wing Young Huie (BA ‘79, journalism) with the inaugural Josephine Lee Asian American Studies Program Community Award.

Former program directors also returned to celebrate, including Jigna Desai and Erika Lee who returned from out of state for the occasion.

Music for the event was performed by The Gated Community, a country and bluegrass band founded by Associate Professor Sumanth Gopinath of the UMN School of Music.

In reflecting on the event, Fajardo commented, “This has been a hard time in academia and in BIPOC communities. Among other social injustices, the extreme right wing has also intensely attacked ethnic studies (and allied fields such as gender, women’s, and sexuality studies.) We need to continue fighting for ethnic studies and GWSS, but we also need moments of joy, connection, community, and solidarity. I hope those who attended experienced some of that.”