AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
TUFTS.EDU
AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion

Asian American Center Mission and History

Our Mission

The Asian American Center (AAC), founded in 1983 as a result of student activism, is a resource for the Asian and Asian American communities at Tufts University. The AAC fosters a supportive environment for the personal and social development of students through its programs and resources.  

The center recognizes the complex identities that individuals have and we seek to support you in your identity journey. We hope to cultivate an experience that allows you to celebrate and reflect on the unique experiences of the Asian diaspora. We aim to help you to find a sense of belonging at Tufts, as well as connect you with other centers and resources to support your overall wellness and advocate for your needs to ensure a successful and meaningful college experience

Programs and Resources

  • Events that address current needs of Asian & Asian American students, including guest speakers, socials, and workshops
  • First-year support through peer mentorship and tailored curriculum in the Peer Leader Program
  • A physical space for students to study, meet with others, and attend/host events
  • Professional staff available to connect you to campus resources and support

Our History

For a visual version of this timeline, please click here or visit the physical timeline along our center staircase!

  • 1890s - Following the admission of women to Tufts, Start House is the second women’s dormitory established. The house was named after Lena Start, who attempted to raise funds for a women’s residence a decade earlier.
  • 1969 -  The Afro-American Cultural Center opens, including a residential community and staff dedicated to supporting Black students. Now known as the Africana Center, it was the first of the centers now under the Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion to be established.
  • 1973 - Start House becomes the Asian Culture House residential community.
  • 1976 - Dean Elizabeth Toupin creates and teaches Asian American Roots, the first credit-granting Asian American course on the East Coast. [At this time, there are only 88 Asian American students at Tufts.]
  • 1982 - Members of Zeta Psi fraternity yell racist remarks outside the Asian Culture House, prompting unrest across campus. [Asian American & Pacific Islander students make up only 4% (176) of the undergraduate population.]
  • 1983 - Advocacy by students, staff, and faculty culminates in the formation of the Asian Student Center, based on the first floor of Start House. A part-time support staff position is created with Leroy Morishita acting as the first Director.
  • 1984 - Gene Awakuni serves as the second part-time Director.
  • 1985 - Linell Yugawa becomes the third part-time Director.
  • 1988 - The Director position becomes a full-time, 12-month position. By this time, the center is referred to as the Asian American Center.
  • 1991 - The number of Asian American first-year students reaches 154. [Asian American & Pacific Islanders make up 9.3% (408) of the undergraduate population, more than double the population of the previous decade.]
  • 2018 - As a result of student activism, the center expands to all three floors of Start House while the residential community moves to another location on campus.
  • 2019 - Linell Yugawa retires after 3 decades as Director. Aaron Parayno becomes the center’s second full-time Director.
  • 2020 - Emily Ding becomes the center’s Program Administrator, the first time that the center has a second full-time staff position.
  • 2021 - The first floor of the center is painted and re-furnished in celebration of reopening after over a year of remote operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Asian American students now make up 15.5% (1028) of the undergraduate population.]
  • 2022 - Kali Guise joins as a Program Administrator, growing the center team to three full-time staff.
  • 2023 - The Asian American Center celebrates its 40th anniversary!

The video below explores the history and legacy of the center through the lens 6 alumni from the 1990's to the 2020's.

The Senior Spotlight video below spotlights Maria Fong, BFA21, and her experiences as a one of the students who contributed to creating the Mural Room.

To learn more about the history of activism by Asian & Asian American students at Tufts, as well as the changing definitions of Asian American identity on campus, please click here to read more. 

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