UK Asian and Asian-American Employee Affinity Group celebrates AAPI Heritage Month
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 29 2024) — The Asian and Asian-American Employee Affinity Group (AAA EAG) at the University of Kentucky was established by the Office for Institutional Diversity at UK to promote a culture of inclusion and belonging through professional development and mutual understanding. Recently the group celebrated AAPI Heritage Month with an event for employees at the university.
“In the past year, nearly 150 members got together several times and provided positive feedback, eager to do more,” said AAA EAG co-lead Tracy Lu. “Already, these events have increased meaningful professional connections among its members, including research collaborations and project proposals. Our gatherings have served as a platform for inspiration, collaboration and camaraderie, empowering AAA EAG members both professionally and personally.”
Beyond professional collaboration, AAA EAG events also allow members a place to share their talents and learn new skills. The group is planning on hosting more events in the future centered around member skills, allowing space for others to learn new talents.
“AAA EAG members truly appreciate the extensive support of the Office for Institutional Diversity and the entire campus community,” said Lu. “Our efforts align very well with the vision of inclusive diversity promoted by university leaders, and this group provides a fantastic support network for our AAPI employees at UK."
The AAA EAG currently features more than 250 members who originate from various Asian countries, including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand, among others.
Learn more about our upcoming events by contacting co-leads Tracy Lu, Ph.D., (tracy.lu@uky.edu) and Suzanne McGinnis (Suzanne.mcginnis@uky.edu), or by visiting https://oid.uky.edu/asian-and-asian-american-affinity-group.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.