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College of Social Sciences
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution
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
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)
Mentee: (non-paid position)
For more information contact: Student Success Coordinator, Lisa Xiong: Lisax@mail.fresnostate.edu
How to attend?
Contact: Ashley Yang: Ashleyyang@csufresno.edu
Past site visits:
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 of the Department of Construction Management at Lyles College of Engineering
Wei Wu, Ph.D., is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Construction Management at Lyles College of Engineering at California State University, Fresno. He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Built Environment and Equipment Engineering from Hunan University in China in 2004, Master of Science in Environmental Change and Management from the University of Oxford in the UK in 2005, and Doctor of Philosophy in Design, Construction, and Planning from the University of Florida in 2010. Dr. Wu's teaching interests include Construction/Engineering Graphics, Design Visualization, Design-Build Project Delivery, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Advanced Planning and Pre-construction, and Construction Management Senior Capstone. He received the 2018 Teaching Excellence Award of the Associated Schools of Construction (Region 7) and the 2019 Provost Award in Innovation from Fresno State. Dr. Wu's research focuses on BIM, educational technology, extended reality (XR), and construction and engineering education. He has published more than 70 articles and conference proceedings in these areas. Dr. Wu's research has been funded by regional and federal agencies, including National Science Foundation (NSF) grants on XR-enhanced active and authentic learning and faculty professional development for more effective XR integration in STEM teaching and learning.
weiwu@mail.fresnostate.edu
559.278.6011
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
Ashley is the AANAPISI Work-Based Learning Experiences Project Coordinator. She is a Hmong – American, born and raised in Fresno, California. Ashley transfer to Fresno State with her Associate of Arts in Psychology, and is a proud 2x Fresno State Alumna with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling, option in Student Affairs and College Counseling.
Through this role, Ashley hopes to collaborate, network, advocate, and support Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) students in their educational journey within the Criminology-related field. Ashley is committed to guide and provide students with opportunities to be equipped with the information, knowledge, and tools to use in their related professional field by coordinating events, such as the Criminology Career Fair, workshops, site visitations, and Alumni Panels. Ashley is thrilled and looks forward to building connection with students as they prepare to enter the work force.
In her free time, Ashley enjoys watching her favorite shows, reading a book, or finding new food places to try out.
Ashleyyang@csufresno.edu
559.278.2657
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
AANAPISI Working Project Assistant
Leslie Ortiz-Escalera is AANAPISI’s Working Project Assistant. Leslie was born and raised in Fresno California and is the oldest of 3. She is very passionate about her field, she graduated from Buchanan High School, attended Clovis Community College where she graduated with 2 degrees and is now a senior at Fresno State majoring in Forensic Behavioral Science. She likes to live by her favorite quote, “I want to live life in such a way that when I die someone can say she cared”.
In her free time she likes to hang out with family, be outdoors, and travel. She is thrilled to be part of the AANAPISI team and through this role she hopes to reach out and help many students to make available information about this programs resources and make her team's job a bit easier
lesliee18@mail.fresnostate.edu