KINGSTON, R.I. – May 15, 2025 – The University of Rhode Island’s third annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month luncheon celebrated diverse communities found at URI and their partnerships.

Rhode Island State Senator Victoria Gu delivered keynote remarks at this year’s program, held in URI’s Memorial Union. She was elected in 2022 with Senator Linda Ujifusa, the General Assembly’s first elected legislators of Asian descent.

Alumnus Neelam Ahmed ’22, raised in South Kingstown, also spoke movingly about how URI offered a place and way for her to connect to her heritage as a Muslim-American. She says, “The Multicultural Student Services Center became just more than a building; it became a home away from home, a place where we could gather, reflect, and grow into our identity with pride.”

The event honored student leaders in URI’s Asian and Pacific American communities. This year’s Asian Cultural Ambassador Award winners are:

Sudishma Acharya
Acharya is a finance data science major from Nepal and now East Greenwich. As president of URI’s South Asian Student Association, Acharya has encouraged SASA to broaden its reach across South Asia and has enjoyed introducing a wider range of South Asian festivals to the URI community. “Diversity and having people from different cultural backgrounds work together is crucial,” she says. “Through diversity people can consider new ideas and perspectives.”

Sara Cho
President of the Asian Student Association, Cho is pursuing her doctor of pharmacy at URI. The Beaverton, Oregon native says that diversity offers opportunities for mutual learning and growth, while interacting with people of different backgrounds offers opportunity for empathy: “Our cultural differences can be a strength,” she says.

Kyanna Lin
A business management major from East Greenwich, Lin served as secretary of URI’s Asian Student Association this year. She says when people of different backgrounds work together, it improves problem-solving, breaks down stereotypes and barriers, and lets people break free of limiting expectations and myths. As she looks forward to her business career, Lin hopes to see more work toward understanding and less judgement of others.

Megumi Sinniah
From Branson, Missouri, Sinniah is pursuing her master’s in international relations. A research fellow at URI’s Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, she has seen firsthand the impact of different cultures working together for shared objectives. Sinniah loves that URI has many diverse clubs, where its many cultures can meet: “We are shaping the future to become more inclusive, empathetic, and knowledgeable.”

The students were presented with Cultural Ambassador Awards provided through the sponsorship of longtime engineering faculty member Professor Qing (Ken) Yang, the first person from the Chinese mainland to join the faculty at URI.

“I am truly fortunate to be part of such an exceptional community,” Yang says, “and feel a strong sense of gratitude toward this remarkable institution. As Asian Americans, we should take pride in our cultural heritage and strive to further enhance this esteemed institution in the years to come.”

All Multicultural Student Services Center programs and events are open to the entire URI community. For more information, or to submit a nomination for next year’s program, contact Jean Nsabumuremyi at jnsabumuremyi@uri.edu, 401-874-5829.