Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month

This month we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Harvard’s Asian and Pacific Island communities.

Last updated: April 2023

This marble slab, or stele, was presented to Harvard in 1936 as a gift from Chinese alumni on the occasion of the University鈥檚 tercentenary.

Our community, past and present

Educating myself on the expansive history of Asian Americans has been fundamental to accepting pieces of my identity I previously denied.鈥�

Keun-woo Lee

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Teren Sevea

As Harvard Divinity School assistant professor in Islamic Studies, Teren Sevea explores Islamic societies in Southeast Asia and across the Indian Ocean world.

Apsara Iyer

This year Apsara Iyer became the 137th president of the Harvard Law Review, an entirely student-edited journal with the largest circulation of any law journal in the world.

Jeromel Dela Rosa Lara

Jeromel comes from a family of Filipino migrant workers, so when he had to choose a thesis, he chose to focus on the experience of Filipina migrant domestic workers.

Namhi Kim Wagner

Namhi Kim Wagner, who passed away earlier this year, was the first director of the Korean Language Program at 91国产福利. She generously shared her passion for the Korean language and Korean Studies with generations of faculty, staff, and students.

James Choi Spackman

While attending Harvard in the 1950s, James Choi Spackman took on many jobs to make ends meet, including his 鈥渇irst business lesson,鈥� a wildly successful snack stand.

Ge Kunhua

In 1879, Ge Kunhua was appointed the first Chinese language instructor at Harvard and the first native Chinese speaker to teach Chinese in America.

Kentar艒 Kaneko

Kentar艒 Kaneko was one of the first two Japanese students to attend Harvard. He earned a degree from the Law School in 1874 and went on to help draft the Japanese constitution in 1889.

Many of these students, faculty, and alumni are connected to AAPI groups throughout Harvard, including:

Art connects us

Explore some of the Harvard Art Museums’ artworks by Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander artists.

Beyond these works, the museums’ on Level 2 hosts an ever-changing selection of Asian art, and the “” exhibition can be toured virtually from anywhere.

Exploring Asian and Pacific Island scholarship

Recent gifts from Asian American alumni leaders have created a historic expansion of Harvard’s Asian American studies program.

A children's classroom with a teacher at the front

Elementary

The need for Asian American history in schools

Stewart Kwoh, co-executive director of the Asian American Education Project, is developing curriculums and trainings to help educators embrace the rich history.

Living history

Bringing the 'ula lei back to life

Adaptability

Fighting bigotry with art

A watercolor of two men wearing COVID masks

Family story

One woman, three lives

Responsibility

Answering the civic call

Visibility

Student work, center stage

Equity

Marshall Islands, past and future

Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment

Along with partner institutions in China, conducts studies on climate change, energy systems, and economic development.
Harvard Center Shanghai

makes it possible for Harvard faculty and students to study and work in China, and supports activities that bring Chinese students, scholars, and professionals to Harvard.
Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute India Office

supports a variety of activities, including collaborative research projects, student internships, language studies, and postdoctoral fellowships.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health India Research Center

is designed to broaden and coordinate Harvard’s existing collaborations and create new relationships with organizations and agencies across India.
Harvard Business School centers

Harvard Business School has many centers across the globe, including , , and in Asia.