The AACC Center Staff is comprised of several teams focusing on different areas and work collaboratively with one another, our AACC Peer Liaisons, Yale staff and faculty, the greater New Haven community, and alumni.
Co-Head Coordinators
Diza Hendrawan (Benjamin Franklin ‘25)
Pronouns: she/they
Major: Film and Media Studies
Why AACC? I started out as an FYC during my first year, so there hasn’t ever been a time at Yale where I haven’t been a part of the AACC. I’m really excited to return as a Co-Head of Center Staff, and I hope this year we continue to make the AACC a welcoming, inclusive space — especially to our friends affiliated with other cultural centers and affinity spaces!
Who is your favorite Yale class? Southeast Asia Cinema or TV Writing: The Pilot
What are your hobbies? carefully curating Spotify playlists and letterboxd reviews
Diza is a junior in the Film and Media Studies program at Yale on the production track, and a board member of the Southeast Asian Movement at Yale. They have been lucky enough to produce two Southeast Asian-directed thesis films at Yale (one related to a heist and one related to the fantasies and fears of inevitable homecoming), and hope to continue creating & producing works of Southeast Asian diasporic media! You can typically find Diza long-gone on an aimless tangent about ghosts and ghostly memory, or posting “makanbang” pics to their joint food Instagram with their Co-Head PL/food-related bestie!
Sunehra Subah (Berkeley ‘24)
Pronouns: she/hers
Major: History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health
Why AACC? The friends I have made at the AACC have been so caring and tender towards me. I am deeply grateful for the community here – deeply grateful for all the kitchen table talks and foodie love languages. Such a huge thank you to everyone who makes the center feel like home <3
What is your favorite food? Really anything my mom and dad make me - if I had to pick a fav, kacchi biryani!
What’s your favorite campus study spot? Tie between the AACC’s kitchen and back porch!
I am the proud daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants. I was born and raised in Ozone Park (big love to the A/C trains!), and a part of my heart will always be in NY. I love to listen to people retell stories (esp movie and tv show plot spoilers), because I think its super funny to watch all the dramatic detail be retold in the matter of five minutes. I can usually be found romanticizing my life while walking around the local supermarket.
Alumni Engagement
Jenny Lee (Saybrook ‘25)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Economics + Ethnicity, Race, and Migration (ER&M)
Why AACC? The AACC and its resources have created a home for me to build new relationships and find shared experiences. I’m so humbled and excited to continue sustaining our space on campus within such a brilliant community of friends and staff.
What is your favorite food? Budae jjigae (“army stew” — the dish has such a resonant history!) + Korean street foods
Who is your favorite New Haven restaurant? Mecha Noodle Bar
Kenny Li (Pauli Murray ‘25)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Computer Science, Math
Why AACC? The AACC has always been an incredibly warm and welcoming home away from home. I’ve met some of my closest friends here, and I love to be able to meet new people and continue to help build community and family here at Yale :)
What is your favorite food? Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (麻辣牛肉面）, Dough Drop Soup (疙瘩汤）
Kenny is a Junior in Pauli Murray College originally from Cleveland, OH studying Computer Science and Math. Outside of the classroom, he is involved with the Chinese American Student Association, Negative Space, and works as a web content intern with SineTheta magazine. You can probably find him playing tennis, writing, making goofy song mashups on audacity, stargazing, or asleep.
Communications & Design
Arden Yum (Benjamin Franklin ‘25)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Cognitive Science
Why AACC? I’m excited to meet new people + help asian americans (who are new to Yale or new to the AACC) feel welcome and supported by the center
What are your favorite movies/TV shows? succession, black mirror, parasite, gossip girl
What are your hobbies? cooking, photography, fashion, running
Hi, I’m Arden and I’m a junior in Benjamin Franklin studying Cognitive Science (though my initial declarations were Latin and English). Outside of academics, I’m involved in student entrepreneurship at Tsai CITY, fashion/arts at FUSE magazine, and I’m a TA for CS50, Yale’s most popular introductory coding class. I’m from New York City, so I am a big fan of bagels, speed-walking, and spending my free time in Central Park. My non-NYC-derived qualities include a love for cooking, photography, taking photos of the food I cook, and running (I want to finish a marathon by the time I graduate from Yale). I feel like I am growing into and realizing how deeply I treasure my Korean-American identity as I get older, and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the AACC staff this year!
Jennifer Truong (Silliman ‘26)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Computer Science and Economics
Why AACC? Being at the AACC has been such a great way to involve myself with and foster Yale’s Asian community. I’ve spent so many days at the AACC’s kitchen table grinding psets and eating comfort foods, all the while meeting new friends. Taking naps on the comfy Game Room couch is also a bonus.
What is your favorite food? Poke drenched in spicy mayo
What are your hobbies? Nail art! I grew up with so many strong Vietnamese women who are nail techs. Being able to create cool nail art feels like both a homage to them and a creative outlet for myself.
Lilly Chai (Jonathan Edwards ‘26)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Economics
Why AACC? The AACC has given me such a supportive, genuine community at Yale, and I can’t imagine my college experience without it. I’m excited to help create an inclusive space for exploring and celebrating Asian American culture.
What is your favorite food? Flushing street foods (pan-fried pork buns, wontons in chili oil, steamed rice rolls)
What is your favorite campus study spot? Haas Arts Library
Historical, Artistic, and Cultural Resources
Ishikaa Kothari (Timothy Dwight ‘25)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Computer Science + Film & Media Studies
Why AACC? I am so grateful that the AACC has given me a supportive, meaningful community for celebration, healing, organizing, and radical conversations. I am excited to collaborate with the most thoughtful, brilliant people to help everyone find a home at the AACC too and grow this special community!
What is your favorite food? Gol Gappay/Pani puri
What is your favorite campus study spot? HQ, Steep, and AACC
Stella Choi (Benjamin Franklin ‘26)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Cognitive Science & East Asian Studies + Education certificate
Why AACC? The AACC to me is a vibrant community, a source of inspiration, and above all, a home (with a kitchen!). Working at the AACC gives me a special opportunity to connect with, plan, serve, share, and love on the Asian American community at Yale.
What is your favorite book? All time favorite is Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, but a recent one is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
What are your hobbies? Finding new restaurants/ cafes, racket sports (at least, I try), taking candids in 0.5s, browsing around Trader Joes, etc.
Hi!!! I’m a sophomore in Ben Franklin with a strong interest in the human mind and everything that entails. Last year, I served as FL and Cultural Chair for KASY, worked as an RA at a developmental psychology lab, and was involved with the campus ministry UCW. This year, I hope to pour into the AACC community and plan fun, healing, and meaningful events for you all <33
Political Action & Education
Maheen Iqbal (Grace Hopper ‘25)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Political Science, Comparative Literature; Certificate in Advanced French Studies
Why AACC? Throughout my time at Yale, the AACC has served as a home away from home - the place I go to feel comforted, surrounded by friends, and an affirmation of Asian American identity and history. I am very excited to spend another year in this meaningful space!
What is your favorite Yale class? The Political Economy of Gender in South Asia
What is your favorite New Haven restaurant? Havenly
Maheen is a junior in Grace Hopper College from Toronto, Canada double-majoring in Political Science and Comparative Literature. On the Political Action and Education Team at the AACC, Maheen is passionate about post-conflict development and migration patterns in Asia. She loves reading novels written by Asian authors, solo YUAG visits, and cafe-hopping around New Haven on Sunday mornings. She’s very excited to continue as a member of the AACC family, and all the new people she’ll get to meet in the process!
Naina Agrawal-Hardin (Benjamin Franklin ‘25)
Pronouns: she/hers
Major: History with Energy Studies Certificate
Why AACC? The AACC is a home away from home on campus! It’s helped me bond with other Yalies through cooking, reading, laughing, and exchange of diverse cultural traditions.
What is your favorite book? The Secret History by Donna Tartt
What are your favorite artists/bands? Samia, Lake Street Dive, Lauryn Hill
Wellness & Mental Health
Ava Estacio-Touhey (Pierson ‘25)
Pronouns: she/they
Major: Archaeological Studies and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration (ER&M)
Why AACC? Working at the AACC gives me the privilege to learn more about and contribute to our community on an individual basis, as the AACC itself holds a crucial space where we can honor our diverse Asian/Asian American identities. Connecting, learning, and growing together over food, conversation, and new experiences allows us to find our own sense of self and our own way to home.
What is your favorite movie/TV show? The Grand Budapest Hotel
What is your favorite artist/band? Brandi Carlile
Ava is a junior in Pierson College studying Archaeological Studies and Ethnicity, Race, & Migration. In their free time, you can find them singing with Pitches and Tones, running Queer and Asian, Kasama, and Asian-ish events, and eating chickie parm from gheav with Mark Chung.
Emily Cheung (Trumbull ‘26)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Why AACC? The AACC has been a place of comfort and familiarity for me. I see it as an environment to decompress within the chaos of the outside campus. I am looking forward to provide additional supports to incoming and current students, so more people can take advantage of this space.
What is your favorite Yale class? Vietnamese Language with Prof Quang
What is your favorite New Haven restaurant? Zul Cafe and Grill
First-Year Coordinators
Ashyah Galbokke Hewage (Timothy Dwight ‘27)
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Neuroscience
Why AACC? The community and sense of belonging the AACC cultivates to build family at Yale is so beautiful. I look forward to the many meaningful collaborations we make with other cultural centers on campus and branching off to expand our AACC community even more.
What is your favorite food? Kokis (a crispy Sri Lankan snack)
What are your favorite artists/bands? Harry Styles, Public Library Commute, The Beatles, Tchaikovsky, Andrea Bocelli, SZA, FINNEAS, John Mayer, Adele
Marissa Halagao (Branford ‘27)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Major: Ethnicity, Race & Migration
Why AACC? As a Filipino American who feels proud of and connected to their heritage, I will forever remember the first day I visited AACC at Yale, hoping for the same sense of belonging and opportunity for coalition building that I grew accustomed to as a Hawaii-born Filipino.
What is your favorite food? Lumpia!
What are your favorite artists/bands? Zack Tabudlo, Kolohe Kai, Ariana Grande, SZA
Ryan Kim (Pierson ‘27)
Pronouns: he/him
Major: Computer Science
Why AACC? Being a part of the AACC, I’m so excited about contributing to Yale’s vibrant and inclusive Asian community, meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, and creating enriching experiences that celebrate Asian culture and heritage.
What is your favorite food? Korean BBQ & Salmon Poke
What are your favorite artists/bands? I listen to a lot of K-Pop, some favorite groups include: BTS, NewJeans, IVE, LE SSERAFIM and Big Bang
Arts Liaison
Thomas Kannam (Grace Hopper ‘26)
Pronouns: they/them
Major: Theater, Dance, & Performance Studies (TDAPS) and Ethnicity, Race, & Migration (ER&M)
Why AACC? The AACC is a hub that symbolizes, and celebrates, the wide breadth of Asian experiences present on campus. Coincidentally.. it is also full of the most talented and interesting people on campus. I am so honored to work in such a comforting environment, and excited to expand its artistic outreach.
What are your hobbies? Trying (disastrously) to use a sewing machine
What is your favorite New Haven restaurant? Mamoun’s