More Than Just a Numbers Game:
Asian Americans and Racial Diversity in the Ivory Tower

Co-sponsored by the Hunter College Asian American Studies Program & The Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College

The program will begin promptly at 1:00pm.
Guests are invited to join us for a reception following the discussion.

U.S. Colleges and Universities have experienced rapid growth in Asian American student enrollment over the last four decades, paralleling growth in the general Asian American population following immigration reform in 1965. In the 1980s and 90s, increased Asian American enrollment at elite institutions was hailed within a discourse of celebrating diversity. At the same time, the increase in Asian American college students also drew fears of an “Asian Invasion.” Speakers at this event will consider the cultural, demographic and policy implications of increasing Asian American enrollment in higher education.

About the Panelists

Dr. Oliver Wang is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at California State University, Long Beach. He specializes in race, ethnicity and popular culture, especially popular music. He is considered a leading expert on Asian Americans in pop culture, especially the Asian American involvment in hip-hop culture.

Dr. OiYan Poon is a Research Associate at the UMass Boston Institute for Asian American Studies. Her research critically examines racial inequalities and public policy with a focus on how Asian American communities become civically engaged to affect social change. She has been involved with national debates over educational access, racial equity, and Asian Americans over the last ten years. Most recently, she published two articles presenting analysis of the recently approved changes to the University of California’s Undergraduate Admissions eligibility policy.

Dr. Margaret M. Chin (Moderator) is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Hunter College. Her work focuses on new immigrants, working poor families, race and ethnicity, and Asian Americans. Her current projects include research on how Asian ethnic media is used by first- and second- generation Asians and Asian Americans; a project on the status of low wage immigrant workers and where they turn to for work and assistance during this recession; and a project on the differences and similarities among Brooklyn’s Chinatown, Flushing’s Asiantown and Manhattan’s Chinatown.