Chandni Kumar Annual Lecture on Asian Americans and Activism
The Chandni Kumar Annual Lecture on Asian Americans and Activism was established by the Kumar Pal Family out of a desire to empower and inspire student activism and engagement for the Asian American community. Each year, a speaker is invited to address topics such as their own history of activism, civic and political engagement, student activism, social and racial justice, and coalition-building. A student is also named an Impact Award recipient to recognize their work in furthering social justice issues on campus.
Past Chandni Kumar Lectures
2022-2023 | April 13, 2023
Speakers: Dr. Sam Vong and Thakur Mishra
Topic: Storytelling as Activism: The Bhutanese Diaspora and the Politics of Documenting Displacement
Impact Awardee: Nelson Chen | Theatre, Asian American Studies minor
Dr. Binod Paudyal, AAST Lecturer, facilitated a conversation between Dr. Sam Vong, Curator of Asian Pacific American History, and Thakur Mishra, Executive Editor at the Bhutan News Service. The three touched upon community engagement within South Asian America and Bhutanese refugee communities in particular, public history, and how to bridge the work of local storytellers with cultural institutions like the Smithsonian.
2021-2022 | February 23, 2022
Speaker: Neha Singhal
Topic: “Reflections on Learning and Unlearning Activism”
Impact Awardee: Jacqueline Liu | Biological Sciences: Cell Biology and Genetics, Women's Studies minor
Neha is a high school teacher, curriculum designer, restorative justice coach, and staff trainer in MCPS. She also taught courses in AAST at the University of Maryland and worked in immigration policy, striving for grassroots-led change at the local, state, and national levels. She is passionate about full-spectrum reproductive justice and serves her community as a birth doula.
Neha highlighted her journey of navigating various organizations, allowing her to understand red and green flags surrounding spaces that are social justice focused. The talk gave an honest perspective of how she had to unlearn and learn activism, followed by an engaging Q + A session.
2020-2021 | February 4, 2021
Speaker: Neel Saxena, Chief Advancement Officer, Fair Chance
Topic: “So You Want to Work in a Nonprofit”
Impact Awardee: Patrick Peralta, Government and Politics major, Minors in Asian American Studies and Philosophy
Neel Saxena, a leader, collaborator, advocate, fundraiser, and Chief Advancement Officer at Fair Chance, shares his journey working in and with Asian American nonprofits, lessons learned through that journey, and the authentic experience of leading an Asian American nonprofit. It will be an honest perspective of the experiences working at an entry level position to an Executive Director at an Asian American nonprofit.
2019-2020 | October 3, 2019
Speaker: Sandy Dang, Executive Director of Vietnam Education Foundation and Founder & Former Executive Director of Asian American LEAD
Topic: “Turning War and Refugee Experiences into a Positive Force to Build a Strong AAPI Community”
Impact Awardee: Heather Kim ‘20, Journalism major, Asian American Studies minor
The talk highlights ways in which painful experiences of war and refugee migration can be transformed into hope and activism for the AAPI Community.
2018-2019 | February 7, 2019
Speaker: Sookyung Oh, D.C. Area Director, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
Topic: “Reaching in & Connecting Out for Change”
Impact Awardee: Danielle Ocampo ‘19, Psychology major, Asian American Studies minor
Sookyung Oh discusses the joys of centering AAPI community, creativity, organizing, and resistance to build a larger multi-racial and ethnic movement towards liberation for all.
2017-2018 | February 15, 2018
Speaker: Darakshan Raja, Founder and Co-Director, Justice for Muslims Collective
Impact Awardee: Reg Ledesma ‘18, Economics major, Asian American Studies minor
In this inaugural lecture, Darakshan Raja shares about the Justice for Muslims Collective and its work in building power and leaders within the Washington, DC area communities most impacted by US interventions abroad and Islamaphobia at home.