Vision & Mission

Vision Statement

The vision of AAPIRC is to provide a physical space where students are able to enrich their university social experience and access student services, programs, research, and educational opportunities without feeling the guilts of the "Model Minority Myth" (SC Pacific Asia Museum).

Mission Statement

The mission of the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center is to build a sense of belonging for AAPI students during their studies at the University of New Mexico. AAPIRC also seeks to provide culturally relevant programs that cultivate Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders within communities. The designation of AAPI includes East Asian, Southeast Asian, Central Asian, South Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Arab American students at UNM. 

Who Do We Serve? 

All UNM students are welcome to visit AAPIRC and utilize our services. In addition, we offer culturally relevant programs, leadership opportunities, and spaces that foster a sense of belonging, specifically designed to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students.

Students of the following heritages, along with others not listed here, are housed under our definition of the AAPI term: 

East Asia: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Mongolia, and Taiwan

Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam

South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma/Myanmar, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet

Central Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

Pacific Islander: (Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia): American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Hawai'i, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga.

South West Asia & North Africa (SWANA): Armenia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen