West Los Angeles College, with support from their Asian Pasifika Desi American (APDA) Employee Affinity Group, has launched a new course in Asian American Studies that will start in Spring 2026.
“The neighborhoods WLAC serves have a long-standing, diverse Asian American population who have helped shape Culver City and greater Los Angeles. This class allows students of all backgrounds and ages an opportunity to learn more about the history and cultures of different Asian countries and how that has impacted the Asian diaspora in America today.
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Connecting personal experiences with Asian histories and cultures, including those of family, friends or community;
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Understanding how colonialism and global dynamics have impacted the social, political and economic structure in Asian;
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Considering the difference between appreciation and respect vs appropriation in the consumption and representation of Asian cultures
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Dr. Masakuzu Jack Fujimoto, the first Asian American to become president of a college as president at Sacramento City College two years earlier;
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Frank Quiambao who helped the campus introduce online education; and
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Dr. Evelyn Wong, the second longest serving president in the college’s history, who presided over a major physical transformation of the campus in the 1990s
As an online synchronous class, West students along with those from other colleges and universities, can enroll and build community online while meeting a general education requirement for their respective degree and transfer programs,” said Allison Tom-Miura, WLAC Dean of Academic Affairs.
This new 3-unit class is a general education course that meets a Humanities requirement for California State and University of California colleges as well as for most other public and private community colleges and universities. Students will meet one afternoon per week via Zoom with each other and Professor Julie Tran. College students, high school students and life-long learners are all welcome.
