History

In February 2014, the Coalition for Critical Asian American Studies published an Open Letter about how Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American students experience UC San Diego. This Letter issued a list of demands that included an increase in hiring Asian Pacific Islander American faculty who teach and do research on APIMEDA people, the creation of the APIMEDA Lifebook, the hiring of Asian American CAPS counselors, and the creation of a staffed APIMEDA Research and Resource Center. CCAAS presented information in their letter and other information about the experiences of APIMEDA students to the Vice Chancellor EDI’s Advisory Committee, and sought support from Associated Students for their letter. Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Carol Padden convened a meeting of administration, staff, faculty, students, and alumni to discuss ways that the campus could address the demands.

In 2015, when current Vice Chancellor Becky R. Petitt started her tenure, she worked with other staff in the Vice Chancellor EDI’s Office to assess the needs of the communities. She created UC San Diego’s inaugural Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Desi American (APIMEDA) Program Manager position, and hired Windi Sasaki, who assumed the role July 2016.