Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI) dean John J. Chin and Queens College President Frank H. Wu announce a $1.175 million investment for AAARI.
Photos courtesy of Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens College President Frank H. Wu announced a $1.175 million investment for the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI) on Wednesday, June 17.
Established in 2001, AAARI is CUNY’s university-wide institute dedicated to researching issues impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across New York. The center focuses on academic research encompassing data, policy, education, and public engagement.
The funding, which takes effect in the fiscal year 2027 New York State budget, provides policymakers and public agencies with timely resources that advance more inclusive and equitable policymaking.
AAARI intends the investment to bolster its partnerships with community-based organizations, educators, and researchers across New York. These efforts include student leadership initiatives, public lectures and convenings, the Localized History Project, and its academic journal about topics in Asian American and Asian Studies.
“For the past 25 years, AAARI has worked to connect CUNY’s extraordinary scholarly resources with the needs, histories, and priorities of AAPI communities,” John J. Chin, AAARI dean, said. “This new funding brings AAARI closer to the level of sustained capacity needed to serve New York’s AAPI communities at the scale they deserve.”
President Wu called the investment “historic,” as it recognizes the role AAARI plays across New York State.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are among the fastest-growing and most diverse communities in New York,” Wu said. “AAARI provides the research, public engagement, and community connections needed to better understand and serve them.”