Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Each May, institutions across the United States observe Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a time to recognize the histories, contributions, and lived experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This observance provides an important opportunity not only for celebration, but also for reflection, particularly within academic spaces where knowledge, identity, and society intersect.
In 2026, the national theme—“Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together”—offers a meaningful framework for engagement. It emphasizes collective strength, shared narratives, and the importance of building connections across communities. Within the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), this theme resonates deeply with our commitment to inquiry, engagement, and fostering a culture of belonging.
Understanding the 2026 Theme: Power Through Connection
The 2026 theme centers on the idea that communities are strengthened through collaboration, storytelling, and solidarity. It calls attention to the ways individuals and groups can come together to build bridges—across cultures, disciplines, and lived experiences—while honoring the distinct identities that shape those connections.
The metaphor of the bridge is especially powerful. It represents not only connection, but also intentional effort: the work of understanding perspectives different from our own, and the responsibility of creating pathways for dialogue and shared learning. For AANHPI communities, whose histories are often shaped by migration, resilience, and transnational identity, this concept reflects both lived experience and collective strength.
For CSSH, the theme of unity aligns closely with our academic purpose. As a college dedicated to exploring human behavior, social systems, and global dynamics, we are continuously engaged in the work of building intellectual and relational bridges—between ideas, disciplines, and communities.
A Scholarly Lens on Unity, Identity, and Community
Across CSSH, the study of community, identity, and power is central to our work. Faculty and staff engage deeply with questions related to migration, belonging, representation, and social justice—areas that are closely tied to the experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
This month encourages us to approach these questions with renewed intention. It invites reflection on how communities form and sustain themselves, how narratives shape identity, and how institutions can support equitable participation and visibility.
Within disciplines such as sociology, political science, history, and international affairs, scholarship often examines the intersections of culture, policy, and lived experience. Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides an opportunity to highlight these connections and to further integrate diverse perspectives into our academic work.
Storytelling as a Bridge Between Knowledge and Experience
A central element of this year’s theme is the emphasis on storytelling. The call to “share our stories” is both a cultural and academic imperative—one that aligns with the core values of CSSH.
Storytelling allows individuals and communities to assert identity, preserve history, and foster understanding. Within academic contexts, it also serves as a method of inquiry, a way of documenting lived experience, and a tool for challenging dominant narratives.
In CSSH, storytelling is embedded in research, teaching, and engagement. It appears in historical analysis, ethnographic research, media studies, and community-based work. It shapes how we understand the past, interpret the present, and imagine the future.
Recognizing Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month encourages us to be more intentional about whose stories are being told, how they are being told, and how they contribute to a broader understanding of society.
Fostering Belonging Through Collective Engagement
The theme “Power in Unity” also speaks directly to the importance of belonging. Within CSSH, belonging is not simply an outcome—it is an ongoing practice shaped by our interactions, commitments, and institutional culture.
Belonging is cultivated when individuals feel recognized, respected, and connected to a larger community. It is strengthened through collaboration, dialogue, and shared purpose. In this way, belonging and unity are deeply interconnected: both rely on relationships, mutual understanding, and collective effort.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides an opportunity to reflect on how we support AANHPI faculty, staff, and students, and how we create spaces where diverse experiences are not only acknowledged but valued.
Within CSSH, this work takes many forms—from community-building initiatives to academic programming and collaborative dialogue. These efforts contribute to a broader culture in which individuals are encouraged to bring their full selves into the community.
Bridging Academic Inquiry and the Human Experience
At its core, CSSH is a space where academic inquiry meets the complexities of the human experience. The 2026 theme reinforces the idea that our work is not isolated from the world around us; rather, it is deeply connected to the communities and systems we study.
The concept of bridging—central to this year’s theme—reflects the role of CSSH in connecting theory and practice. Whether through research, teaching, or engagement, our work seeks to understand and address real-world challenges.
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month reminds us that this work requires both intellectual rigor and human connection. It calls us to engage with diverse perspectives, to listen with intention, and to contribute to a more inclusive and informed understanding of society.
Continuing the Work Beyond the Month
While May provides a dedicated time for recognition, the values reflected in Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month extend throughout the year. The themes of unity, connection, and belonging are not confined to a single moment—they are integral to the ongoing work of CSSH.
“Power in Unity” serves as a reminder that meaningful engagement requires sustained effort. It encourages us to continue integrating diverse perspectives into our teaching, research, and daily interactions, and to remain committed to fostering a community where all members feel supported and valued.
A Collective Acknowledgment
As we recognize Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities affirms its commitment to honoring the histories, contributions, and experiences of AANHPI communities.
In alignment with this year’s theme, we also reaffirm our commitment to building a community grounded in connection, collaboration, and shared understanding—recognizing that our collective strength lies in the diversity of perspectives that shape our college.
Through reflection, engagement, and continued learning, we move forward together—strengthening our community and advancing a culture of belonging across CSSH.
