Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are playing an increasing role in all arenas of decision-making and politics in the United States. Yet, there is a long way to go before the full chorus of voices among our diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ethnic communities is heard. The UCLA Asian American Studies Center (AASC) has been engaged in community-based and policy-relevant research for over 50 years and in 2021 launched the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Policy Initiative in the midst of the pandemic. We build on our long history as a recognized leader in Asian American Studies with a track record of excellence in applied policy research, publications, and leadership development.
The aim of the AAPI Policy Initiative is to support and produce research in collaboration with nonprofit advocacy organizations and policy makers to uplift AAPI perspectives in civic life and public decision-making. As a nonpartisan research entity housed under the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, the AAPI Policy Initiative will conduct and disseminate research in collaboration with stakeholders and policy makers.
AASC is home to the largest concentration of scholars who study Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations in the nation, with over 50 faculty members on its advisory committee. The AAPI Policy Initiative includes over 20 faculty and researchers from a dozen academic disciplines. In addition, AASC faculty have built collaborative networks of public policy research at campuses across the country.
Policy research capabilities of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and its faculty include but are not limited to the following:
Population projections Data visualization Economic well-being Housing Climate change Mental health Health Political participation Urbanization Aging |
Migration and immigration Criminal justice Labor Media Institutional diversity Urban conflict Disabilities Education |
Publications from the UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press explore the histories, contemporary experiences, and perspectives of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. They showcase the latest research across a range of disciplines from the humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and various professional schools.
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press has published over 200 books and over 100 reports. Among them are groudbreaking books like Roots, the first Asian American Studies anthology, and the award-winning Mountain Movers, which documents the founding of Asian American Studies at UCLA, UC Berkeley, and San Francisco State.
The AASC is home to two national journals:
Founded in 1971, Amerasia Journal is the first and longest-rinning academic journal in the field of Asian American Studies. It features over 120 issues and 1000+ articles, available through nearly 3,000 institutions internationally.
Founded in 2003, AAPI Nexus Journal features applied research on policy, practice and community. The journal is searchable through over 300 different research databases.
AASC is developing digital books and downloadable texts for K-12 and college students to provide free, high quality curricula on Asian American and Pacific Islander history, culture and contemporary issues.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Digital Textbook (launching soon)
The research mission of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center has been to shed light on the lives and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by providing financial and administrative support to research fellows from across the nation and the world.
Endowed Chairs
The Center is the institutional home to endowed chairs who are nationally-recognized leaders in teaching and research in the field of Asian American Studies:
Research Opportunities
UCLA supports the following fellowships and research grants hosted by the AASC:
IAC Visiting Scholar Fellowship Program
The AASC also offers opportunities for faculty, student and community members for research and engagement:
Endowment funded research projects
Student awardsGeorge and Sakaye Aratani Community Advancement Research Endowment (C.A.R.E. Awards)