An event to commemorate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage and Educational Opportunity Fund Awareness month was held on April 3 in the Alumni Lounges.
Hosted by the Offices of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Compliance (EDIC) and the EOF Program, the event was kicked off with speakers, Associate Director of Campus Inclusion and Intercultural Affairs, Costin Thampikutty and EOF Office Coordinator, Christine Millien.
“We have been doing this collaboration since 2022, since EOF officially recognized EOF Awareness Month in April,” Millien said. “This month, today, everyday, this is about us.”
Nicole Morgan Agard, chief equity and diversity officer and vice president of equity, inclusion and compliance, then welcomed President Cindy Jebb and said a few words encouraging people to take part in APIDA heritage this month.
“Please take some time this month to learn something new,” Agard said. “Go to the library, read a play by an Asian Pacific Islander Desi American writer. Watch a movie or a play, visit a restaurant. Please take some time to learn about all the wonderful and different cultures that we have here, you will not regret it.”
Jebb then took the stage to give the proclamation for EOF Awareness Month.
“A vibrant campus community that prioritizes academic, personal and professional growth. And whereas through mentorship, resources and alumni networks EOF scholars have thrived and contributed significantly to the fabric of our college, our state and beyond,” Jebb said.
She went on to proclaim April as APIDA Month Heritage.
“I join with you today to acknowledge the many contributions of our students, faculty and staff of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander descent…The entire month is an opportunity to honor generations of APIDA persons, who have enriched our history and are a part of our past, present and future,” Jebb said.
The audience then heard from sophomore student intern in the Multicultural Center Catherine Bardzell, who introduced the next speaker for the event, Joyce Shim.
“Originally from South Korea, she was a first gen who grew up in Bergen County, and worked as a professor and dean in Chicago and New York, before joining Ramapo. She also lived and worked in Spain, to support refugee and immigrant communities. She got her Bachelors from Rutgers New Brunswick and her Masters and PhD from Columbia University,” Bardzell said. “She is a two-time Fulbright specialist, having worked in Colombia and Russia, and looks forward to working more closely with students in coming years.”
Shim captured the audience’s attention, reading her personal “love-letter” to her grandmother and the impact she has had on her life, sharing personal anecdotes of her grandmother’s life.
“You were born when Korea was under Japanese colonization. You were not allowed to be called by your Korean name, and you barely learned how to read and count in Korean,” Shim read. “You lost your husband and your eldest son. From then on the sole purpose of your life was to survive. And to raise your four remaining children to be survivors like you.”
She closed with a message to the Ramapo community as a whole.
“We may be from another place, but we belong here. We may not be known everywhere, but guess what? We are here to stay,” Shim said.
Gabriella Ammiano, director of EOF and Student Success, followed with thank-yous to EOF advisors and partners and a recognition of all the EOF students’ successes.
“Our EOF student contributions extend far beyond our increasing enrollment. The impact of this program on and off campus, continues to inspire us,” Ammiano said.
Ammiano then welcomed Joel Acosta, Junior computer science major and EOF scholar, to the stage to share some words.
“There’s something powerful about knowing that you have this network of people who come from where you come from, who have been through what you’ve been through. That those same people want you to succeed,” Acosta said.
Deirdre Foreman, associate director of the EOF program, then introduced music industry major, Charles Butler, who sang his unreleased single “Touch.”
Thampikutty and Millien then took the stage to close out the event, sharing upcoming events held by both groups.
South Asian Student Organization hosted their kick-off event, Beyond Boarders: A Cultural Celebration, on Wednesday April 2. For the rest of the month, EOF is planning events ranging from the EOF Celebration Ceremony to the Celebrate Your Journey reflection event and APIDA is hosting events from the United Asian Association movie night to the International Street Food Fest.
oparisi@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Maryellen Kane
