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College of Social Sciences
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution
AANAPI Graduation Ceremony
Fresno Public Defenders Office
Federal Correctional Institution - Mendota
Criminology Professional Panel highlighting AANAPI Professionals
Fresno Family Healing Center
Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education Conference 2025
About the AANAPISI Initiative
The Asian American and Pacific Islander in Criminology (AAPIC) Peer Mentors offer personalized, one-on-one support to help students navigate academic and personal challenges—especially those who identify as AANAPI and are majoring in Criminology. Mentors meet with their peer mentees on a bi-weekly basis to build relationships, teach practical skills, provide guidance on navigating campus resources, and offer support in adjusting to college life. Their approach is holistic, focusing on the whole student.
In addition to individual support, AAPIC Peer Mentors help foster a sense of belonging by hosting community-building meetings and providing general encouragement. They also take the lead in planning events, delivering presentations, and organizing community service opportunities that enrich both the peer mentoring experience and the broader campus community.
Apply to become a Peer Mentor Today!
Requirement includes:
AAPIC Peer Mentor: (Paid Position)
Peer Mentor Application bit.ly/PM25-26 is NOW OPEN - deadline May 5th, 2025 11:59 PST
Job description link: bit.ly/JobDesPM25-26
(non-paid position)
Maika Lee
Lyneth Alacar
Kelly Lee, She/Her/Hers
Paul PhornSok, He/Him
Dan Nguyen
Nikita Moitra, She/Her/Hers
Abigail Formoso, She/Her/Hers
Isaiah Abat, He/Him/His
For more information, contact Lisa Xiong: Lisax@mail.fresnostate.edu
**All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national orgin, who are interested in the AAPIC Peer Mentorship program are welcome.
Community Leadership Micro- Certificate Program
Looking to build your leadership skills while making a real impact on your community? The Community Leadership Certificate Program is a year-long experience designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to advocate for the APIDA community and beyond.
The Community Leaders (CL) Program is a year-long leadership experience that equips students with the skills and knowledge to advocate for the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) community and beyond. Through cohort-based training, CLs explore cultural competency, the history of APIDA communities, and current social issues.
As part of the program, CLs design and deliver Culturally Responsive Services(CRS) that address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and respond to disparities within the community. These projects are showcased at ED Talks—a campus-wide event that creates a dedicated safe space for APIDA students to share their stories, connect with peers, and find support.
All projects are published in a Resource Guide to help connect APIDA students and the broader community to vital on- and off-campus resources.
Crystal Moua, she/her/hers
This project examines the cultural competency of law enforcement in their interactions with the Hmong community, focusing on the gaps that may be present in understanding cultural practices, differences, and trust-building. Through interviews with Hmong community members, law enforcement, and professionals, I analyze the environmental factors influencing the Hmong judicial system using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. By exploring these factors, this study aims to enhance law enforcement's understanding of the Hmong judicial process and similar ethnic legal systems.
Hmong Judicial System Presentation
Project Board for Cultural Competency Tool: Hmong Judicial System
Destiny Lor, She/her/hers
Ginger Hang, She/Her/Hers
The purpose of our project is to provide guidance to our AAPI community in attaining accessible and culturally competent mental healthcare resources to destigmatize mental health taboos and break barriers of mental healthcare. In order for AAPI communities to bridge their gaps of knowledge of mental healthcare, to discover other mental healthcare options, and to normalize topics of mental health.
APIDA Mental Healthcare Website
Lilly Xiong, She/Her/Hers
Asian American officers, both inside and outside the bars, may feel undervalued, unacknowledged, and invisible because of their lack of representation and presence in animated media. In response, this project aimed to inspire appreciation, hope, and encouragement to both present and future Asian American officers by presenting a narrative about a Hmong American man who struggles with merging his cultural identity and his professional responsibilities as an American officer.
"Khov Khov” Animated Storyboard - Youtube
"Khov Khov" Canvas Presentation
Rynee Wijesinghe, She/Her/Hers
Simranjeet Sekhon, She/They
Our project seeks to explore how individuals’ self-worth, shaped by cultural identity and personal experiences, influences their interactions with various systems of justice, including informal community-based practices and formal legal systems. The purpose is to understand how individuals balance their personal identity with formal systems (ex: law enforcement) and informal community practices. It examines how trust, fairness, and empowerment within these systems affect personal behavior, participation, and views on justice. Our project utilizes a website as a medium to place our survey, survey results, and resources in one space.
Your Worth, Your Voice Website
Graduates of the program are eligible for hire to become Community Leaders (Paid Position) and deliver Culturally Responsive Services through the AANAPISI Initiative.
Interested in making a difference? Apply now bit.ly/CL25-26—students from all backgrounds are welcome! deadline May 5th, 2025 11:59 PST
For more information, contact Kathy Moua: kathybk@mail.fresnostate.edu
**All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national orgin, who are interested in the Community Leadership program are welcome.
The Work-Based Learning Experiences provide AAPI Criminology students to connect with real-world work sites, explore justice-related issues, and engage with mentors in Criminal and Civil Justice from the moment they enter the major. Through hands-on experiences and career development activities—supported by the Career Development Center (CDC)—students gain valuable knowledge, skills, and networks throughout every stage of their journey. A strong foundation of Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) ensures that AAPI students are career-ready and fully supported from entry to graduation.
Read more below about what expereinces we offer!
For more information, contact Chi Chang: chichang@mail.fresnostate.edu
**All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national orgin, who are interested in the site-visits are welcome.
Professional Development in Criminology Course (CRIM 136T)
This course will introduce students to the various ways in which communication and critical thinking are used in the field of criminology. Communication and documentation methods used by academics and practitioners within the criminal justice system, such as law enforcement, courts, corrections, and victim services, will be examined. An emphasis will be placed on writing from a social science perspective.
For more infomration, contact Dr. Jordan Pickering: jpickering@csufresno.edu
Fresno State Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander - Serving Institution fsaanapisi@mail.fresnostate.edu 5592780062
Project Investigator (PI) for the AANAPISI Initiative | Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
AANAPISI Co-Pi | Professor | Chair to the Department of Criminology
Dr. Chadley James, has an M.S. in Clinical Criminology from the University of Leicester, UK and a Ph.D. in Victimology from Tokiwa University, Japan. His research focuses on the intersection of culture and victimization, developing and evaluating victim assistance programs for marginalized populations, along with developing better training programs for victim assistance personal working with victims of violent crime. Dr. James is the recipient of the 2015 World Society of Victimology (WSV) Beniamin Mendelsohn Young Victimologist Award and is the organizing Co-Director of the two-week Postgraduate Course in Victimology, Victim Assistance and Criminal Justice held every year in Dubrovnik, Croatia at the Inter-University Center (IUC) Dubrovnik. He is an Executive Committee member of the WSV (Treasurer), and a part of the UN Liaison committee of the WSV. Dr. James has published in international journals and textbooks and has presented papers at international conferences, courses, and seminars in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
Dr. James’ current administrative duties include serving as Assistant Chair to the Department of Criminology and Chair of the University General Education Committee.
chadleyj@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.5416
She/They, Project Specialist
Morgan Britter is a graduate of the College of Science and Mathematics with a degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate, she published 2 research articles: Shifts in Power Relations across Group Work Activities for Gas Laws (Journal of Chemistry Education) and Community Perspectives on Pharmacist-Prescribed Hormonal Contraception in Rural California (Journal of Contraception). She also served as a peer mentor to first-year STEM majors, an instructional student assistant for the BOND program, and as a member of the ASI Academic Committee.
Morgan currently also works in the College of Science and Mathematics Dean’s Office as an Administrative Support Coordinator: Communications and Development Support. She serves as a lead role in communications for the college, supports the college’s Director of Development, and assists with some of the college’s grants.
Outside of work, Morgan enjoys cooking new recipes, getting outdoors, and listening to audiobooks. She also makes time to play cards with family and have movie nights with friends.
She is excited about being a part of the AANAPISI team and looks forward to making lasting connections with coworkers and students alike.
morganbritter@mail.fresnostate.edu
Course Developer for the AANAPISI | Assistant Professor | Graduate Program Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Option
Dr. Jordan Pickering is an Assistant Professor and the graduate coordinator in the Department of Criminology at Fresno State. Her areas of research specialization include police-community relations, police use of force, law enforcement training, and qualitative research methods are some of the things that led her to the Criminology program at Fresno State. In addition to her research, Dr. Pickering was drawn to the Criminology department because of their commitment to collaboration with local criminal justice agencies and the ability to make a difference through her research and teaching.
As a graduate of Fresno State's Writing Across the Curriculum program (WAC), Dr. Pickering was excited to join the AANAPISI grant to assist with the creation and implementation of a professional development course that emphasizes writing and communication across criminal justice occupations. Written and verbal communication skills are important qualifications for many jobs within the criminal justice system and CRIM 136T course is designed to help students develop these skills while also learning about various occupations in law enforcement, the legal system, corrections, and victim services.
Dr. Pickering is grateful to be a part of the AANAPISI project and looks forward to helping students prepare themselves for the job market.
jpickering@csufresno.edu
559. 278.5712
She/her/hers, AANAPISI Work-Based Learning Experiences Project Coordinator
Chi Chang is the Work-Based Learning Experience (WBLE) Project Coordinator for the AANAPISI Initiative, where she supports Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students in the Criminology and Forensic Behavioral Sciences majors to explore meaningful career and professional pathways within the criminal justice system.
A proud daughter of Hmong refugees and a first-generation college graduate, Chi holds a B.S. in Criminology with a Forensic Behavioral Sciences option, a B.A. in Anthropology, and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL)—all from Fresno State. Rooted in social justice, advocacy, and transformative education, Chi brings a wide range of experience in higher education, international education, and public service. She has supported diverse student populations through roles in Academic Success Coaching, the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, the U.S. Forest Service, and more.
Some of her work includes the HESACV Conference assessment, supporting the Black Student Success Initiative (BSSI) in their research to improve the academic success and well-being of Black students at Fresno State, co-organizing events like the Reaching for Inspiration, Success, and Excellence (RISE) Kickoff, and leading various programming and professional development workshops. Chi continues to find inspiration in equity-centered work while staying updated on the evolving landscape of higher education.
Outside of work, Chi enjoys reading, late-night journaling, listening to music, sipping boba, and spending time with her pets. She stays grounded by building community, continuous learning, and making space with—and for—others.
chichang@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.5319
She/her/hers, Student Success Project Coordinator
Lisa Xiong is the AANAPSI Initiative’s Student Success Project Coordinator. She is a proud Hmong Woman, born and raised in Fresno, and is a graduate with a Bachelor’s in Forensic Behavioral Science from Fresno State and a Master’s in Counseling, option in Student Affairs & College Counseling.
Through this Student Success Project Coordinator role, she is committed to empowering and advocating, creating platforms to spread AANAPI voices, implementing curriculums, developing cohorts, and directing AANAPI students. She coordinates and develops outreach and workshop plans to share resources and opportunities for AANAPI student success. She also coordinates the Asian American Pacific Islander Criminology (AAPIC) Peer Mentoring Program, implementing and developing interpersonal and professional skills. Lisa is excited to support AAANAPI students with a holistic approach to accomplishing their goals.
lisax@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.0062
She/Her/Hers | AANAPISI Certificate Program Coordinator and Trainer
Kathy is the Certificate Program Coordinator and Trainer for the AANAPISI Initiative at CSU Fresno. She also serves as the Assistant Coordinator for both Asian Pacific Islander Programs and Services and the American Indian Program and Services at the Cross Cultural and Gender Center. As a proud Hmong-American, Kathy earned her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and her master’s degree from CSU Fresno. With a passion for culturally responsive education, she designs and leads programs that empower students and foster their academic and professional growth.
In her role, Kathy manages the development, delivery, and evaluation of the Micro-Certificate Program, working closely with students, faculty, and community partners to cultivate a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Her goal is to make the program both rigorous and rewarding, equipping participants with the tools and confidence to become community leaders and ambassadors for culturally responsive services on campus and beyond.
Outside of work, you might find Kathy enjoying cooking videos, getting lost in a good book, training for 5Ks around Fresno, or exploring historical sites across the USA. She believes that education should be as dynamic and vibrant as the communities it serves and is dedicated to bringing that vision to life.
kathybk@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.4732
Emily Xiong, She/Her/Hers
Lyneth Alacar, She/Her/Hers
Leslie Ortiz-Escalera, She/Her/Hers