1970

In the mid-1970s, Shirley Hune taught the first Asian American Studies course at the University of Maryland, College Park as an adjunct instructor. At the time, she was still a graduate student at The George Washington University. Today, Dr. Hune is Professor of Education and Leadership Studies at the University of Washington (Seattle). Prior to joining the University of Washington in 2007, she served as Associate Dean in the Graduate Division at the University of California, Los Angeles (1992-2007), where she was also a Professor of Urban Planning. Prior to that she taught at Hunter College, where she was also an Associate Provost, and at Medgar Evers College, both part of The City University of New York. For three decades, Professor Hune has been involved in diversifying the curriculum and research in educational institutions and contributing to the development of ethnic studies and women’s studies.

1990-1994

During this period, Gloria Bouis (former Executive Director of the UMD Office of Diversity Education and Compliance) provided critical support for students as they formed the Asian Student Union in 1990 (ASU was the precursor to the current Asian American Student Union student organization). Gloria and Professor William Liu advised the student group leaders to reach out to the presidents of other Asian American student organizations and to begin collaborating with them. In 1992, the ASU started their first leadership retreat with presidents from Asian student organizations traveled to Front Royal, Virginia to discuss leadership strategies, greater collaboration, and Asian American studies. As a result of their work at the retreat, student leaders gained a better understanding of the importance of an Asian American Studies curriculum. The first outcome of these leadership retreats was the petitioning of Professor Sangeeta Ray (English), to teach the first Asian American Experience course.

1995

“Asian American Experiences” was offered as part of the Honors program. It was the only class addressing Asian American issues. This brought the attention of students such as Christina Lagdameo '98, Linh-Thong Huu (“Tone”) Nguyen '97, and Wendy Wang '97 who began to campaign for a more robust set of classes to learn more about “our history and where we came from.” Lagdameo, Wang, Nguyen, Hsuan Ou '97, and others co-founded the Working for an Asian American Studies Program (WAASP) as part of the Asian American Student Union leadership structure in hopes of establishing an Asian American Studies Program that would create a permanent program of study and faculty and staff.

This group did extensive research on how other universities created their Asian American Studies programs, and made formal proposals to the University Administration. Provost Daniel Fallon provided seed funds for the Asian American Studies Project (AASP), Dr. Seung-Kyung Kim provided lead faculty support and William Liu served as Graduate Assistant on the project. More Asian American Studies courses were offered as a result of student, staff, and faculty activism during the 1995-96 academic year. According to students like Chandni Kumar '00 there is still a pressing need for a more comprehensive curriculum. In the Winter of 1995, AASP held a one-day workshop for administrators and department chairs to create a formal proposal for an Asian American Studies Program to be approved by the University Senate. The proposal was given to University administrators but was repeatedly shelved.With the proposal pending, students continued an active campaign and get the word out in the community by means of teach-ins, high school visits, media outreach, chalking slogans around the UMD campus, protests, sit-ins, and informational sessions at Stamp.

1996

WAASP hosted the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU) annual conference at the University of Maryland, and Asian American college students from all over the country attended. The event showed the University the commitment that Asian American students have to Asian American issues. Many student leaders involved in WAASP and the Asian American Student Union created strong alliances with students in the Black Student Union and Latino Student Union. Together, they spread the word about the fight for an Asian American Studies Program to their members, as well as discussing issues affecting Asian Americans nationwide.

1997

Several revisions of the Asian American Studies proposal were submitted, but supporters were still skeptical that the proposal would pass. With seed funding depleted and a new Provost joining the University, students had to reestablish their commitment to and campus relationships to push the proposal forward. Students continued their demand for the creation of an Asian American Studies Program. They organized a Stereotype Day, featuring students dressed as Asian stereotypes to raise awareness of the need for Asian American Studies. During one protest in front of Stamp (with 100-150 students gathered), a leader from the Black Student Union urged the group to march to the Administration Building.

A crowd of 200 students began chanting “Asian American Studies Now!” and demanded a meeting with the University’s President. Asian American Studies professor Phil Tajitsu Nash and student leaders met with the president. As a result of their negotiations with the Administration, a Task Force on Asian American Studies was created to further develop the proposal. The Task Force on AAST submitted a report on the AAST certificate program to the Provost’s office in the Winter of 1997.

1998

The Provost endorsed the proposal, and a steering committee was created to develop a curriculum and identify professors. Students remained active in the process to ensure that the proposal was not shelved.

2000

The University Senate voted in favor of the proposal, and the Asian American Studies Program was approved. The dedication of Dharma Naik '00 and others who fought for the establishment of the Asian American Studies Program was central to the proposal moving forward. The Asian American Studies Program awarded the first Asian American Studies Certificates.

2004-2005

Dr. Tim Ng served as Interim Director of Asian American Studies at a critical juncture for the program. Under his leadership, a permanent director position for Asian American Studies was established in 2006. To recognize Dr. Ng's numerous contributions and efforts to advance Asian American Studies at Maryland, an AAST scholarship was later endowed by gifts from Dr. Ng, colleagues.

2007

The University Senate approved the Asian American Studies Minor Program.