Minneapolis, Minn. (July 27, 2010) – The Association for Asian American Studies has moved its Secretariat headquarters to the University of Minnesota, Asian American Studies Program.
The AAAS (www.aaastuides.org) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1979 for the purpose of advancing the highest professional standard of excellence in teaching and research in the field of Asian American Studies. It sponsors professional activities to facilitate increased communication and scholarly exchange among teachers, researchers, and students in the field of Asian American Studies.
“We are thrilled to host the Association for Asian American Studies, and we are excited about the opportunities that this partnership will bring to Minnesota,” said Erika Lee, Associate Professor in the History Department and Director of the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Minnesota (www.aas.umn.edu). “The University of Minnesota is the perfect home for this growing organization.
“We look forward to showcasing the U’s Asian American Studies research, teaching, and community partnerships to programs and communities around the country,” added Lee.
The AAAS advocates and represents the interests and welfare of Asian American Studies and Asian Americans. AAAS was also founded for the purpose of educating American society about the history and aspirations of Asian American ethnic minorities.
Saengmany Ratsabout, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Asian American Studies Program is the main contact for the Secretariat as its Senior Administrator. With over 8 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, he has worked as a coordinator and consultant on community-based projects, research analysis, grant writing, program planning and evaluation, and community assessment.
Saengmany has taught courses in both Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies. He brings scholarly work, as well as experiences working with the Twin Cities’ Asian American communities.
“I am honored and excited to be part of such an amazing partnership and to work with scholars in the field of Asian American Studies, many of whom have work I admire” said Saengmany.
The AAAS/UMN Secretariat is already planning a critical role in organizing the Association’s annual conference. The theme for the 2011 AAAS conference “Consuming Asian America” is inspired, in part, by the site of the conference itself – New Orleans, the city that measures the success of its Mardi Gras celebration by weighing the garbage collected the morning after and whose shopping and nightclub district for locals is called “Fat City.”
“I’m proud to serve as the president of the Association for Asian American Studies which recently celebrated thirty years of fostering excellence in teaching and research,” said Josephine Lee, Professor in the English Department at the University of Minnesota and AAAS President . “AAAS not only promotes interdisciplinary scholarship and pedagogy, but also encourages connection and collaboration.
“I’m looking forward to bringing some of those collaborations here to Minnesota with the arrival of the AAAS Secretariat.
Contact Saengmany Ratsabout at 612-625-4813 or email [email protected]
