Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

Dear Members of the NJCU Family:

As we continue to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month throughout the month of May, I want to say thank you to the many members of the New Jersey City University community for sharing your rich history and culture with us every day. More than eight percent of our current student population identifies as AAPI, as do many of our faculty and staff, and you are a beloved part of the fabric that comprises the vibrant tapestry that makes NJCU one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse campuses in the nation — a tapestry that is reflected back at us throughout the communities here in Jersey City and Hudson County. You make all of us better. 

The theme of our recognition of AAPI Heritage Month Advancing Leaders Through Innovation, which culminates a four-year series of advancing the leadership that people of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage have made in our lives in the fields of art, government, business, healthcare, education, technology and other areas that are shaping our future.

Observance of AAPI Heritage Month, as with other historically-designated months, offers us a chance to not only celebrate the accomplishments of a culture and ethnicity, but also a chance to pause and reflect. It is also my chance to encourage all members of our university community to engage in meaningful dialogue, education, and advocacy to amplify AAPI voices, uplift their stories, and honor their contributions. Together, let us build a more just, equitable, and inclusive world where every individual, regardless of their background or identity, can achieve their full potential. 

On a campus like NJCU, one where we have long recognized that our strength lies in our diversity, let us continue to stand in solidarity against discrimination, bigotry, and xenophobia in all its forms, and champion diversity, equity, and justice as core values of our university mission.

The AAPI community has made significant contributions to NJCU's cultural and social fabric, and I am proud to join our students, faculty, staff, and our community in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month. 

Yours in service,

Andrés Acebo
Interim President
New Jersey City University