This May, UC San Diego celebrates the 20th anniversary of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month, a vibrant, month-long tribute to APIA identities, cultures and contributions. Through dynamic events, lectures and seminars, we honor the profound impact of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to U.S. history, culture and innovation.
All faculty, staff and students are invited to join this year’s festivities, embracing the national Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month theme. “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together" leverages collective strength and bridge-building, and promotes resilience, connection and belonging within AANHPI communities.
Please join us for the kickoff luncheon and awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Price Center Ballroom West. The event will feature a keynote address by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Gene Luen Yang. His graphic novel “American Born Chinese” was adapted into a live-action series on Disney+. There will be exciting cultural performances and an awards presentation honoring outstanding UC San Diego students, faculty and staff. To purchase tickets, reserve a table or donate, please contact apiahcelebration@ucsd.edu.
To view the month-long calendar of events, please visit the APIA webpage.
In recognition of this annual event, two hours of administrative leave with pay have been approved for employees to attend. Supervisors, upon request, may approve the use of such leave when the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties or patient care.
We thank the planning committee volunteers for their hard work in coordinating these educational and celebratory campus activities. Please join our campus community and us in honoring the legacy and contributions of the Asian and Pacific Islander American communities.
