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College of Social Sciences

AANAPISI Initiative

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution

$1.2M GRANT SUPPORTS ASIAN AMERICAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS

Fresno State has received a $1.25 million federal grant to support Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students interested in criminology and forensic behavioral sciences.

This is the first time the University has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) Program since Fresno State was designated an AANAPISI.

“This grant-funded program reflects the campus commitment to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students, providing a welcoming campus experience and preparing them for professional careers,” said Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi, professor of criminology and interim associate dean of the College of Social Sciences at Fresno State. “Earning a bachelor’s degree expands opportunities, enhances earning potential and increases social mobility, all of which contribute to making our region thrive.”

The five-year grant aims to expand the University’s capacity to serve students of Asian and Pacific Islander ethnicity in undergraduate criminology and forensic behavioral sciences majors, and to support their careers in criminal justice and victim assistance. Takahashi will serve as principal investigator with Dr. Xuanning Fu, Fresno State’s interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. 

Criminology is the largest major at Fresno State with 1,846 undergraduate students enrolled, but it has the lowest representation of Asian American and Pacific Islander students among all large majors. The University has nearly 25,000 students total and about 3,100 identify as Asian American and Pacific Islander, according to fall 2021 enrollment data from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.  

The long-established programs in the Department of Criminology provide quality education for students planning professional and academic careers in the criminal and civil justice fields, including direct service and administration in corrections, forensic behavioral sciences, law enforcement and victimology. 

The core components of the proposed program supported by the grant are to develop and implement work-based learning experiences, an Asian American Pacific Islander peer mentoring program and community outreach, culturally responsive services training and professional writing in criminal justice. The program will also work to increase enrollment, retention and the six-year graduation rate of Asian American and Pacific Islander criminology and forensic behavioral science students, which aligns with the California State University’s Graduation Initiative 2025 to increase graduation rates for all CSU students while eliminating opportunity and achievement gaps. 

The project will also develop work-based learning experiences for freshmen, sophomores and juniors, sequencing the experience so criminology majors stay connected to career sites from entry to exit.

The grant also aims to enhance and improve outreach efforts in the greater Fresno area, and will attract more Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students to pursue criminal justice careers and to better serve the diverse communities in the Central Valley.

By BoNhia Lee|November 9th, 2021


Upcoming Events:

A photo of the Asian American and Pacific Islander in Criminology (AAPIC) Peer Mentors, Abigail Formoso, Leslie Ortiz-Escalera, Nikita Nissi Moritra, Danyelle Sada, and Isaiah Abat. With the Work-Based Learning Experiences Coordinator, Samantha Bautista and the Student Success Project Coordinator, Lisa Xiong

Asian American and Pacific Islander in Criminology (AAPIC) Peer Mentor Program

Peer Mentors provide one-on-one support to help students who experience challenges, in particular AANAPI students majoring in Criminology. AAPIC Peer Mentors will meet their peer mentee at least bi-weekly to help their mentee learn new skills, navigate around campus, understand college life, overall, support mentee in a holistic approach. AAPIC Peer Mentors act as resources and guides for the peer mentees. 

Mentors will also host meetings, to build community and provide general support. Additionally, they coordinate events,  presentations and community service opportunities. 

Apply to become a Peer Mentor Today! 

Requirement includes:

AAPIC Peer Mentor: (Paid Position)

  • Mentors must be a student majoring or minoring in the Department of Criminology
  • Mentors must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA when applying and during the program
  • Mentors must be enrolled in upper-division (UD) courses
  • Mentors must commit to a year-long role as a peer mentor.
  • Applications opens November 2024

Mentee: (non-paid position)

  • Mentees must be a student majoring or minoring in the Department of Criminology
  • Mentees must commit to a year-long role as a peer mentee
  • Get an assigned Mentor 
  • Get exclusive site-visits to agencies and departments across the Central Valley 
  • and many more! 
  • For more information: https://bit.ly/AAPICPeerMenteeInterestForm

For more information contact: Student Success Coordinator, Lisa Xiong: Lisax@mail.fresnostate.edu

Community Leadership Certificate

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.
Program Highlights:
  • Four in-person modules
  • Attendance to AANAPISI events
  • Participation in a site visit (courts, prisons, and criminal justice centers)
  • Exit interview and presentation
  • Option to present at educational conferences like HESACV and APAHE
What You’ll Gain:
  • In-depth knowledge of Fresno’s Asian American history
  • Advocacy and facilitation skills to support APIDA communities
  • Mentorship and meaningful discussions with peers and experts
  • Connections with Fresno State staff, faculty, and community leaders
  • Experience creating and presenting content at conferences (APAHE, HESACV)
  • Leadership opportunities at campus workshops and events
  • Professional connections in criminology and law enforcement fields
  • Access to exclusive site visits to courts, prisons, and criminal justice centers
  • A certificate recognizing your commitment to community leadership and cultural responsiveness
Career Opportunities with the Community Leadership Certificate:
  • Public Relations/ Community Outreach Coordinator
  • Cultural Liaison/ Consultant
  • Education and Training Facilitator
  • Student Affairs Coordinator
  • Social Services Coordinator
  • Criminal Justice and Legal Advocacy Liaison
  • Conference and Workshop Presenter
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—students from all backgrounds are welcome!

For more information, contact Kathy Moua: kathybk@mail.fresnostate.edu
Photo of Fresno State students attending the Police Department site visit.

Work-Based Learning Experiences

Interested in upcoming site-visits?

  • Federal Bureau of Prisons
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons , FCI Mendota
  • California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 
  • CDCR, Valley State Prison
  • Criminology Career Panel

How to attend? 

Contact: Ashley Yang: Ashleyyang@csufresno.edu

Past site visits:

  • The James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center
  • Family Healing Center 
  • Clovis Police department 
  • Fresno County Public Defenders Office 
  • California Department of Corrections Workshop
  • AANAPISI Court Room Site Visit
  • Valley State Prison Site Visit
  • WBLE/ California Department of Corrections Outreach Program Workshop

CONTACT US

Fresno State
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander - Serving Institution
fsaanapisi@mail.fresnostate.edu
5592780062


Meet the Staff

Vice President and Provost

 

Project Investigator (PI) for the AANAPISI Initiative, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

 

 

Dr. Wei Wu

AANAPISI Co-Pi and Professor and Chair of the Department of Construction Management at Lyles College of Egineering  

 

Morgan Britter

Morgan Britter (She/They), Project Specialist

Dr. Jordan Pickering

 

 

Course Developer for the AANAPISI, Assistant Professor and,  Graduate Program Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Option

 

Ashley Yang

She/her/hers, AANAPISI Work-Based Learning Experiences Project Coordinator

 

Lisa Xiong

She/her/hers, Student Success Project Coordinator

 

 Kathy Moua

She/Her/Hers | AANAPISI Certificate Program Coordinator and Trainer

 

Leslie Ortiz-Escalera

AANAPISI Working Project Assistant