Asian American Faculty Staff and Alumni Association (AAFSAA) - Events

AAFSAA 2012 Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award recipients

The University of Arizona Asian American Faculty, Staff and Alumni Association – AAFSAA is pleased to announce its 2012 Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award recipients. Join AAFSAA in congratulating:
Faculty Members:

Professor Xiaohui Fan in the Department of Astronomy
Professor Zhao Chen in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Associate Professor Hong-Mei Xiao in the College of Fine Arts, School of Music
Assistant Professor Gayatri Vedantam in the Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology

Staff Member:

Ms. Anoma T. Phanthourath, JD in the College of Pharmacy

Ms. Robin Blackwood, Chair, History Committee, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center is this year’s Outstanding Community Member recipient.

Ms. Mai Luc, BSBA 1999, Finance, Eller College is this year's Outstanding Alumnus.

Their collective achievements represent the highest professional levels of excellence, diversity and depth of scholarship, service and talent. AAFSAA extends sincere appreciation to participating candidates, nominators and letter supporters.

Our distinguished awardees were honored at AAFSAA’s 23nd Annual Scholarship and Awards Celebration, in collaboration with the Asian American Cultural Association, a UA student-run organization. Additionally, this celebration also recognized outstanding student-scholars.

Click through the slide show below to see photos from the event:

AAFSAA 2012 Scholarship Golf Tournament

The University of Arizona Asian American Faculty, Staff and Alumni Association - AAFSAA held its 2012 AAFSAA Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Arizona National Course. More than 60 players participated, contributing to the AAFSAA student scholarship fund. It was a great day for getting together to advance a noteworthy cause.

View Tournament Photo Album. Our appreciation to photographer David Lee.

AAFSAA 2012 Spring Reception Celebrates Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

The Asian American Faculty, Staff and Alumni Association’s April Spring Reception was one of many vibrant events celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month at The University of Arizona. Campus and community members gathered at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center - TCCC. An enjoyable evening of “friend-raising” and refreshments honored the contributions of University faculty, staff, student, alumni and community leaders of Asian heritage and descent.

The reception featured a presentation by Mr. Jack Gibson and friends with Arizona Public Media - AZPM. AAFSAA scholarship, awards and fundraising updates were shared with those in attendance. Our sincere appreciation to everyone who helped to make this reception a success, including Alumni Association; Dr. Ted Tong, AAFSAA President; AAFSAA Board and Planning Committee and AZPM.

View Reception Photo Album

2011 AAFSAA Outstanding Faculty and Staff Awards Dinner Celebration

Congratulations to 2011’s outstanding faculty, alumni and community awardees, and student scholarship recipients. Outstanding faculty are Peter Rhee, MD, MPH, FACS, FCCM and Professor Chieri Kubota. Marian Tadano Shee is Outstanding Alumnus and Jim Shee is Outstanding Community Member.

View 2011 Scholarship and Awards Dinner Album here.

Peter Rhee, MD, MPH, FACS, FCCM, has been selected to receive the Association’s 2011 Outstanding Faculty Award. Dr. Rhee is Director, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & Emergency Surgery, and Professor of Surgery in the College of Medicine at The University of Arizona. This award is in recognition for his distinguished public service in the interest of developing modern trauma care service and emergency critical care response; advocacy for firearm safety education and better mental health care services; cutting-edge research endeavors; and his significant role as an exemplary teacher and mentor to his students, physician colleagues and peers.

Professor Chieri Kubota is also a 2011 Outstanding Faculty Award recipient. Dr. Kubota is in the School of Plant Sciences/Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bio5 Institute for Collaborative Bioresearch at The University of Arizona. Dr. Kubota is being honored for distinguished academic accomplishments; exemplary service to the institution and Arizona’s agricultural development interests; and contributions as a teacher and advisor to her students. Dr. Kubota was nominated by (then Vice Provost and Dean, now) President Sanders.

Marian Tadano Shee has been selected as the 2011 Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient for her distinguished record of public service; the important leadership roles she has performed in support of higher education as a founder of the LEAD Academy at Arizona State University; and other business, social, arts and cultural interests of Asian Americans and Latinos in the Phoenix and Maricopa County.

Jim Shee has been selected as the 2011 Outstanding Community Service Award recipient for his distinguished community and public service accomplishments, and in support of the business, education, arts and cultural interests of Asian Americans, Latinos, the underserved and economically disadvantaged families and communities in Maricopa County and Phoenix.

{C}{C}{C}

AAFSAA 2011 Spring Luncheon

Dr. Peter Rhee was keynote speaker at the 2011 UA Asian American Faculty, Staff & Alumni Association (AAFSAA) Luncheon at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel. Dr. Rhee was the emergency room doctor at the University Medical Center (UMC) on January 8, 2011 when ten gunshot wounded individuals, including U.S. Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords, were brought there. Dr. Rhee is UA Professor of Surgery and Director of the Division of Trauma Critical, Care & Emergency Surgery.
"How to be an Irrepressible Surgeon" was the topic of his speech to about 300 attendees.

The annually held luncheon benefits AAFSAA scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islander students attending the UA. Many scholarship recipients were in attendance and to meet Dr. Rhee. Among the guests introduced were Mrs. Adrian Shelton and members of Congresswoman Giffords' staff. Attending the luncheon were UA faculty staff, alumni, students and community supporters.