Alexa Strabuk ’17
Major: Media Studies
Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA
Ethnicity: Chinese American
Extracurriculars: Editor with The Student Life newspaper, freelance journalist for Mochi Magazine, AAJA Los Angeles Scholar
Ultimately I’d like to pursue a career in journalism and/or media communication. The media is an immensely powerful instrument and journalists are the ultimate communicators, intermediaries, when it comes to shedding light on stories away from the mainstream. At CAPAS, I hope to gain tools with which to move forward productively and actively. I want to help make CAPAS a resource and a safe space for everyone, in collaboration with my wonderful co-workers. There are many APIA issues that I don’t believe get as much attention as they should and I would like to cast a spotlight upon these issues, opening a line of discourse between those who identify as part of the APIA community, as well as those outside of it.
Brandon Hsiu ’18
Major: Economics-Accounting
Hometown: Chicago (born) and Chino Hills (raised)
Ethnicity: Chinese-Taiwanese American
Extracurriculars: Finance & Accounting Club, Tutors For A Cause, SaturdayTongan Education Program (STEP), Computer Lab Desk Assistant, Claremont Accounting Association
I want to obtain an internship my senior year and eventually work at PwC, one of the “Big Four” public accounting firms. When I have time, I also want to start another non-profit organization focused on the importance of education in underprivileged areas. In CAPAS, I hope to bring a larger community of A/AAPI students together and make them feel more comfortable in the already stressful college environment they are in. In addition, I want CAPAS to be a center not only for those that identify as A/AAPI, but also as a resource for other minority groups as well.
Jennifer Kaku ’18
Major: Asian American Studies, Anthropology
Hometown: Arlington, VA
Ethnicity: Japanese American
Extracurricular: CAPAS, Office of Admissions tour guide, Sponsor for the Asian Pacific American Coalition
I hope to create fun activities for CAPAS in the future that supports underrepresented students under the Asian/ Asian American/ Pacific Islander title. I also want to work with other organizations within the 5Cs to open up the space to wider audiences.
Jo Huang ’19
Major: Linguistics
Hometown: born and raised in Shenzhen, China!
Ethnicity: Chinese
Extracurricular: music mentors, Pomona Pitzer Intervarsity, CAPAS!
I plan on going graduate school and eventually earn a doctoral degree in linguistics.
Kimberly Ha ’18
Kristen Park ’17
Lena Tran ’18
Major: Cognitive Science
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Ethnicity: Vietnamese-Chinese American
Extracurriculars: Outside of CAPAS, I work at the Writing Center and am involved with APAC. Some of my interests include reading, dogs, and Sufjan Stevens.
Lucia Zerner ’16
Major: Anthropology
Hometown: New York
Ethnicity: Chinese
Extracurriculars: CAPASSSS
In the future I hope to work in an international NGO setting with refugees or labor migrants particularly in youth education programing. As a CAPAS volunteer I hope to be a part of an inclusive Asian American community on campus. Additionally, through CAPAS I wish to make connections with the claremont community particularly with students in public school in the area.
Parshvi Patel ’16
Preston Chang ’19
Reynaldo Culannay ’17
Riki Robinson ’18
Major: Sociology and Asian American Studies
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Ethnicity: Chinese American and Jewish
Extracurriculars: !!CAPAS!! Bike Program. Residence Assistant. Reform Jewish Youth Engagement. Zines. Netflix. Cuddling with my cats.
I hope CAPAS approaches social justice with an intersectional lens and is an accessible resources to students, both who do and do not identify as Asian American Pacific Islander.
Stephen Chun ’17
Theresa Dang ’17
Major: Human Biology
Hometown: San Diego, California (Born and Raised)
Ethnicity: Vietnamese
Extracurriculars: Mechanic at the Green Bike Program, Sponsor for APAC, Tutor for Tutors for a Cause, First Gen Mentor
My career goal is to become become a doctor (preferably a family physician) who incorporates the more social aspect of public health in my work ethic. I am hoping that CAPAS will provide a platform on which I can initiate change and publicize my voice to the Pitzer Community, in specific AAPI issues as well as first gen student issues.
Therese Boter ’19