The staff of APIMEDA Programs and Services is available to help you find ways to be successful and thrive at UC San Diego. Please consider the staff below and the staff and faculty listed in the APIMEDA Lifebook as resources and mentors to you. Reach out to any of us at any time. We are glad that you are part of our UC San Diego APIMEDA family!
Pronouns: she, her, hers, they, them, theirs
Email address: wsasaki@ucsd.edu
Windi Sasaki is a first-generation college graduate and an alumna of UC San Diego, where she received her BA in Psychology and minors in Biology and Classical & Medieval Europe. She received her MA in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she completed research on Asian American college student development. She has twenty years of experience working on college campuses with students. Windi is particularly excited for this role as it allows her to reach out to students who are looking for community around their racial and ethnic identity and help them join her as a proud UC San Diego alum.
Pronouns: she, her, hers, they, them, theirs
Major: Anthropology
Minor: Art History
Year: Third Year, Class of 2025
Daniella Laher is a Filipino-American undergraduate student from West Covina, California. They are currently studying Anthropology-Archaeology as well as minoring in Art History. With a desire to explore their heritage, they found themself wanting to find cross-cultural solidarity as well as connect with others to foster this community. She is ecstatic to help other students in their personal endeavors and ensure they receive the catered guidance they need in a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Chemistry and Political Science: International Relations
Year: Fourth Year, Class of 2025
Mira Gitanjali Aravamuthan is a fourth-year undergraduate student from Dallas, Texas. She is a double major in Chemistry and Political Science: International Relations. Passionate about social justice education and wanting to grow her community, Mira is looking forward to connecting with students in the broader UC San Diego community. She hopes to leave a lasting impact on the UC San Diego community, as she wraps up her time here.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Communication
Minor: Environmental Studies
Year: Second Year Transfer, Class of 2025
Caroline is a biracial Japanese and British American student from the Bay Area. Keeping close to her Japanese culture has always helped her stay connected to her family, her heritage, and her community. The nature of her mixed background, combined with her Communication major, makes her particularly passionate about fostering cross-cultural coalition. Here at UCSD, it is her goal to help others in the APIMEDA community feel pride in their identity, and to feel connected with and supported by their peers.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Communications
Minor: Marketing
Year: Third Year, Class of 2026
Alishia is a first-generation, South Asian, queer, undergraduate student working towards entering the cosmetic business industry within the marketing field post-graduation. Alishia is passionate about community building and is excited to work with the editing team to showcase what APIMEDA can offer to students here at UC San Diego!
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Cognitive Science
Year: Second Year, Class of 2027
Jenny is a second-year Asian-American from the Bay Area, having roots in Chinese and various Southeast Asian cultures. Growing up, she quickly understood the importance of having one's identity(ies) represented in the broader community. This drives her desire to create spaces and resources for people to find connections with others, or even with themselves. She is excited to have the opportunity to do that for the UCSD community with APIMEDA Programs and Services!
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts (ICAM)
Year: Second Year, Class of 2027
Meena Kolli is a Desi-American undergraduate student from the Bay Area, currently studying Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts. She wishes to create a warm and inclusive environment for other APIMEDA students to explore their various identities at UCSD. As the Design and Publications Assistant for Online and Social Media, Meena is excited to connect with the APIMEDA community through the arts and design.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Major: Cognitive Science with specialization in Design and Interaction
Year: Second Year, Class of 2027
Naomika Nadkarni is a second-year Indian-Singaporean student studying Cognitive Science with a specialization in Design and Interaction. She is incredibly enthusiastic about the performing arts, and is passionate about fostering APIMEDA community within the arts. Naomika is thrilled to be joining the APIMEDA P&S office to contribute to the Lifebook and help incoming students.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Program: PhD student, History (United States)
Catherine is a queer, biracial Chinese-Vietnamese American Ph.D. student in History at UC San Diego. Her research focuses on Southeast Asian refugee community/community building in refugee camps in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. She specifically aims to understand the influences of U.S. colonialism and militarism that many refugees regularly navigate, along with how cross cultural, social, and political solidarities formed between refugees, camp workers, and volunteers as camp residents underwent the process of resettlement. Catherine is incredibly passionate about community and solidarity, and is eager to help foster a safe and welcoming environment for Graduate/Professional students and undergraduates alike!