Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan

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Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan

Asian/Pacific Islander American (A/PIA) Studies at The University of Michigan

Established in 1989, the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies program is one of four ethnic studies programs housed within the Department of American Culture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. We offer interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate courses focusing on the Asian American and Pacific Islander American experience. Our program also serves as a focal point for University research and teaching on Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, and our faculty provides resources for understanding Asian/Pacific Islander American concerns and issues.

06/22/2026

Where are they now?
Say hello to Rebecca Goldberg, Artist for Designs by RebeccaMich, LLC. She urges students to "Learn forever, even after your time in AC is done!". Read more below.

04/01/2026

Join us tomorrow for our annual Betty Ch'Maj Lecture and Friday for our 90th Anniversary Symposium!

April 2nd at 7PM
We are thrilled to announce that Professor George J. Sánchez will deliver the Ch’maj lecture. Professor Sánchez is a leading scholar of American Studies and Ethnicity as well as History at the University of Southern California where he serves as Vice Dean for Diversity and Strategic Initiatives in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

April 3rd at 10AM
Students, alumni, staff, and faculty will gather for a day of conversation and reflection on 90 years of inventive and experimental work in the study of American cultures. Graduates of our PhD program will return to campus to participate in these Friday panels alongside current graduate students and faculty.

Please join us!

03/18/2026

Giving Blueday is TODAY!

Support A/PIA and help fund undergraduate and graduate research, conference travel, and student initiatives. Your gift fuels opportunity and impact within the program.

Make your impact now: https://bit.ly/4upogOn

03/11/2026

Get ready for Giving Blueday!

Next week, your gift can help sustain research, education, and other student opportunities. Every gift powers the programs and people shaping the future in our department.

03/10/2026

The countdown continues…

23 days until our community comes together for the 90th Anniversary Symposium on April 2nd & 3rd, don’t forget! In the meantime, learn more about Stephanie Chang, A/PIA minor, and panelist for Panel #2: What has American Culture Made Possible? Impacts Across the Academy and Public Life.

02/25/2026

Trivia time! What year was A/PIA established? Share your guesses below.

01/30/2026

Thank you for 27 incredible years of service, Dr. Amy Stillman. From serving as Director of Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies (2000–2007) to serving as Director of Native American Studies (2022–2025), Dr. Stillman has transformed our community through visionary scholarship, fearless teaching, and care for students and culture.

A two-time GRAMMY Award winner and world authority on Hawaiian music and hula, she has not only advanced academic understanding of Indigenous performance and Pacific diasporic cultures, but also brought those traditions into the classroom and onto the stage. She has created courses that blend rigorous scholarship with embodied cultural practice, a student favorite being AMCULT 372 Hula Creative Practice, all while attracting students from across the university.

Her research and numerous articles on Indigenous music and performance has reshaped how we think about the histories of sound, dance, and identity. Dr. Stillman’s legacy at Michigan is more than titles and awards, it’s the generations of students she’s challenged, inspired, and lifted, and the cross-cultural bridges she’s helped us all build.

Mahalo, Amy!

01/21/2026

The Department of American Culture is thrilled to welcome Dr. Melissa Borja as the new Director of the Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies Program (A/PIA)!

Dr. Borja focuses on migration, religion, politics, and race in the U.S. and the Pacific. Her current work looks at refugee resettlement, religious diversity, and the politics of compassion.

We look forward to her vision and leadership as A/PIA moves ahead.

01/14/2026

The Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies (A/PIA) program thanks Dr. Manan Desai for his leadership and service as Director.

Through his leadership, A/PIA has continued to grow as a vital space for exploring Asian American histories, identities, and creative expression. Thank you, Dr. Desai, for your dedication and guidance.

01/14/2026

Welcome to Winter 2026 with Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies. We hope your break was restful and spent in good company. We are excited to share what is coming up this semester! Stay tuned.

Address

505 S State St
Ann Arbor, MI
48109

Website

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/apia/

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