Our Board of Governors
Organization Representatives
APAPA: Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs. AAUC Representative : Marsha Golangco
APAPA:Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) is a national nonprofit founded in 2001 to ensure active participation and representation of AAPI communities in civic and public affairs. APAPA is committed to developing impactful leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Since then, APAPA has achieved a strong local and national presence by engaging thousands of AAPI voters through national forums, town halls, rallies, voter outreach events and partner with over 180 diverse community organizations, congressional, state and local leaders. APAPA is also committed to developing the next generation of leaders through a national internship program
HAF: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF). AAUC Representative: Rajeev Singh
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is an educational and advocacy organization that advocates for policies and practices that ensure the well-being of all people and the planet.
HAF works directly with educators and journalists to ensure accurate understanding of Hindus and Hinduism. HAF also works with policymakers and key stakeholders to champion issues of concern to Hindu Americans, including defending civil and human rights and protecting all living beings.
Inspired by its guiding principles and Hindu teachings, HAF promotes dignity, mutual respect, and pluralism.
FAPAC: Federal Asian Pacific Islanders American Council. President: Peter Nguyen; AAUC Representative: Peter Nguyen (DC)
FAPAC’s mission is to share an interest in the advancement of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees in the Federal/DC government and the military Organization. FAPAC is the oldest and largest AAPI Affinity for the Federally employed Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). It is a nationally recognized organization that serves as a conduit through which the interests, issues, and representation of AAPI in the Federal, State, County, City and District of Columbia governments are addressed. FAPAC promotes partnerships with the public and private sectors in the community it serves. It will work with AAUC to form partnership and support to meet FAPAC mission including sponsorship from AAUC during the FAPAC annual National Leadership Training Program during the month of May that coincides with celebrations the Asian Pacific Americans Heritage (APAH) month.
GOPIO: Global Organization of People of Indian Origin. President: Thomas Abraham; AAUC Representative: Thomas Abraham (CT)
GOPIO provides community service to our communities and to project a good image of India and the countries they live in. GOPIO has a big outreach in the Indian American community. GOPIO can do advocacy for Indian Americans, but would like to join with other Asian groups for common agenda
MET: Muslim Educational Trust (MET) . MET Representative: Juwairyah Syed
MET:The Muslim Educational Trust (MET) was founded in 1993 with a mission to enrich the public’s understanding of Islam and dispel common myths and stereotypes, while serving the Muslim community’s educational, social, and spiritual needs in order to develop generations of proud and committed Muslims who will lead our community to the fore front of bridge building dialogue, faith-based community service, and stewardship of Earth and humanity.
New Portland Foundation: President: Sho Dozon; AAUC Representative: Jack Hanna (OR)
Mission: New Portland Foundation’s mission is facilitating partnerships among funders, service providers, businesses, faith and community organizations to create strategies for the comprehensive and compassionate integration of immigrant and refugee communities.
Asian Pacific Islander Community Coalition of Oregon: AAUC Representative: Khanh Tran (OR)
The mission of Asian and Pacific Islander Community Coalition of Oregon (APICCO) is to inspire and empower Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans to develop their leadership potential through mentorship, leadership training and hands on experience. It was established in July 2019 when Civic Leadership USA (CLUSA) requested to convene a meeting of Oregon’s API Leaders. A diverse group of twenty-four prominent API Leaders attended that meeting. The participants agreed that they were ready, willing and able to work together on advocacy and policy issues by collaborating and uniting their effort to promote the common goals of all the ethnic communities. In 2021, APICCO applied and was granted its 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
South Asian Women’s Network: President, AAUC Representative: Angela Anand
About South Asian Women’s Network: A network that highlights positive contributions of women, identifies issues, and impediments to their progress and offers forums to discuss these issues. The network offers opportunities to South Asian families to advocate and offer mutual support to nurture when members get tired, burn out, and need backing. Membership is open to women, men and youth, irrespective of their rank, age, and race who identifies with the goals of the Network. It visions that through discussions and networking opportunities, the network can nurture and promote aspirations and provide opportunities for enlistment of bi-cultural members in this dynamic society. Its vision includes reflecting on American values and desires to assimilate fully in a multi-cultural society yet maintain networks members strong ethnic roots.
Individual Lifetime Members
Niraj P. Baxi (CA)
Niraj P. Baxi has been contributing to the founding and growth of many civic, community, political and business associations in the US, India and around the world. He is the current Chairman of the Gopio International Chamber of Commerce (GICC)He was the Immediate Past President of Global Organization of People of Indian Organization-GOPIO, past President of the National Federation of Indian-American Associations-NFIA and many regional Asian & Indian-American organizations. Co-Founder of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest Indian-American business association with over 19,000 members and he is a 3rdgeneration Insurance & Financial Industry professional.
Allan Fung – (RI)
Allan Fung is a partner at the law firm of Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara and was the former four term Mayor of Cranston, RI. He was also the Republican nominee for Governor in 2014 and 2018. Allan was the first Asian American Mayor elected in the State’s history. He led Cranston to be named one of the Top 50 Cities to Live in America by 24/7 Wall Street and the Best Place to Live in RI by Money Magazine. Before becoming Mayor, he was Government Relations Counsel for MetLife.
SK Lo – (MN)
Dr. Lo serves as the founding and current president of AAUC. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in both Mathematics and Physics, and a Ph.D. in theoretical Physics. She received the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tokyo in the Applied Physics Department. She received her MBA in Strategic Management while working at Honeywell Inc. in classified defense research. She authored several pattens at Honeywell Inc and received the Alpha awards. After Honeywell, she established and transferred two highly successful Kumon Math and Reading franchises in Minneapolis. She was the founding president of the Kumon franchisee association and won variable pricing for the franchisees. She served on the Kumon USA President Council and its Technology Council. She still works with students at one of the Kumon centers she founded. She was a board member of 80-20 Educational Foundation 2015-2018 and 80-20 PAC 2018-2022.
“Tony” Nakazawa – (AK)
Anthony “Tony” Nakazawa is member of AAUC 2018 Organizing Committee for the inaugural meeting in Alaska. He was a Board Member of 80-20 PAC. He is Professor Emeritus, University of Alaska, retired in 2018 as Professor of Economics, UAF School of Natural Resources and Extension. He has a Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources; MA from the University of California, Santa Barbara; and BA from the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus. Former President of Alaska Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. Former member of Alaska Asian Cultural Center – Japanese Community representative.
Steven Pei – (TX)
Steven Pei -Dr. Steven Pei was born in Guilin and grew up in Taiwan. He joined the faculty of the University of Houston in 1994 as a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering to lead the NASA Wake Shield Facility (WSF) program, which was the major payload on three Space Shuttle flight in the 90’s. He served as the Associate Dean of Engineering for Research and leadership roles at several research centers including the NASA Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center, Texas Center for Advanced Materials and Superconductivity, Center for Advanced Materials and is now the Executive Director of the Southwest Public Safety Technology Center. His research group has spun off several high-tech start-up companies. He co-founded the Houston 80-20 PAC in 2000 and was the founding Chair of the United Chinese Americans. Prior to joining academia, he was a department head at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ.
Munsup Seoh – (OH)
Dr. Munsup received his B.S. (1970) and M.S. (1975) in Mathematics at Sogang University in Seoul, Korea.Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Wright State University. Member of the American Statistical Association (ASA) Committee on Minorities in Statistics from 2003-2009. Involved member with American Scientist and Engineers Association, Korean-American University Professors Association and Phi Beta International Honor Society for International Education. VP-Membership, Executive Committee.
Mie Mie Joe Strickler – (MD)
Mie Mie is appointed as the Asian Pacific American Commissioner of Maryland. She gained her international Business skills while employed at the University of Delaware International Program Department. She organized seminars and meetings between foreign businessmen with State and Federal officials and US business owners in DE, PA, MD and NY. In her retirement, she is active in her church and serving at homeless shelters and sits on various boards.
Raman Velji – (OR)
Raman Velji was born in Fiji of Indian descent. He came to America to teach Hindi language and culture to Peace Corp volunteers going to Fiji. He later served as a 3rd Secretary at Fijian Embassy to United Nations in New York. Raman graduated from the University of South Pacific with a BA in Linguistics. He has been the managing director of Pacific Hotel Brokers since 1995. Raman is very active in civic and political involvement including running for Oregon State Representative in 2000 and 2020 being an ardent advocate for Human Rights. He believes in having a united voice for our community to represent Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
Jan Xie – (TX)
Jan Xie is the Founder and President of Asian Culture and Education Society USA (ACAESUSA), Former President of OCA-DFW, Board Director of UCA and ACP as well as Board Director of Gendercide Awareness Project. She is also the Destination Imagination Dallas Region Challenge Master. Jan is certified as the Texas Community Health Worker. Jan Is the photographer and Videographer.She holds the Executive certification in Nonprofit Governance from The University of Texas at Dallas.