Mission Statement

The Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University recognizes that as the world becomes connected at higher speeds on a certain level, international cultural connection, translation and a shared re-imagined space come increasingly into play. The Institute aims to promote discourse on Asian/Pacific America defying traditional boundaries, spanning Asia, to the Americas, through the Atlantic and Pacific Worlds; works to dispel socio-cultural and political misconceptions, provide cultural and scholarly connections, lead collections building, and encourage innovative research and interdisciplinary exploration; and whose goal is to serve as an international nexus of interactive exchange and access for scholars, cultural producers, and communities from New York to beyond. The A/P/A Institute serves the community with public programs based off research, cultural production and scholarship on contemporary issues facing Asian/Pacific American communities and discourse. The Institute provides a nexus for scholars, community leaders and artists who are working on advancing scholarship in the field and bringing theory into practice. Through public programs, publications and other resources, the A/P/A Institute establishes forums for dialogue and interaction between socio-cultural influencers and producers, the academy and the public.

The Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program offers New York University undergraduates a range of exciting courses exploring the histories, experiences and cultural production of Asian/Pacific Americans. A/P/A Studies classes cross boundaries between literature, history, film criticism, art history, urban studies, legal studies, and gender/sexuality studies and connect the lives and concerns of local communities to national and global dynamics. By questioning established notions of "Asian," "Pacific," and "American," the A/P/A Studies Program seeks to facilitate greater understanding of the past and present as a means to better interpret the future. Most notably, A/P/A Studies is historically re-framing Asian American history to include the first encounters of Asians and Americans, to the Manila-Acapulco trade in the mid-1600s. In addition to courses, the A/P/A Studies Program hosts curriculum development sessions which are also meant to re-think Asian, American and Asian American Studies. The sessions have addressed such topics as migration and diaspora, popular culture, pedagogy, experiential learning, and documentation. A/P/A Studies offers an Undergraduate Major and Minor and is part of the multi-disciplinary Department of Social & Cultural Analysis (SCA). Other SCA programs include Africana Studies, American Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Latino Studies, and Metropolitan Studies.

About

A/P/A Institute and A/P/A Studies Program at New York University were founded together in 1996 and have since established a role and reputation in both the university and New York City settings for serving as a nexus for the various communities in which we live. From Program course offerings that take students into the city to research, explore, intern, and volunteer; to Institute public programs that bring community members and organizations together with faculty and students; we share as well as benefit from the wealth of resources that our many communities provide. The Nikkei community in New York City is a vast and vibrant one -- one with a rich history of culture, arts, organization, activism, and civic involvement. We are pleased to share this community with the global Nikkei community via Discover Nikkei.