From One Generation to the Next: Mother and Daughter Celebrate 25 Years of Asian American Studies

On October 8, 2024, the Office of Undergraduate Studies released an article, "From One Generation to the Next: Mother and Daughter Celebrate 25 Years of Asian American Studies" highlighting current AAST minor, Kaia Lee-Espirtu ('25) and her mother Tanya Lee ('01)! While at UMD, Tanya advocated for more AAST courses and joined efforts that called for the establishment of a minor (she is even featured in the AAST Now! documentary (2009)). The two share memories and perspectives on the value of Asian American Studies. We are thrilled to have two generations in AAST!

Tanya Lee found the Asian American Studies courses she took at UMD to be both professionally relevant and personally inspiring. But when she graduated in 2001 with a degree in criminology and criminal justice, she could only earn a certificate in Asian American Studies.

Lee joined a group of students calling for more classes to be offered and a minor to be established, hoping that future Terps would benefit.

Today, as the Asian American Studies Program celebrates its 25th year at UMD, her daughter Kaia is among them.

“I love that this program is still running and that it's still growing and branching out,” said Lee. “That there have been two and a half decades of students seeing that there is a need and a desire to take Asian American Studies… it just means so much that the fight wasn't in vain. It speaks to the importance of this program.”

You can read the full article here.