Welcome Letter from our Director

Congratulations Class of '28!  I am Linda Tran, Associate Dean of Students and Scott J.J. Hsu Director of Stanford’s Asian American Activities Center (A³C), one of eight community centers on campus. We are thrilled to welcome you into our community and to share what Stanford has to offer. 

I hope you will explore our website for information about the A³C and the Asian and Asian American community at Stanford. We know that you are choosing between Stanford and other similar schools nationwide. Most will offer you extraordinary academic and research opportunities. Stanford has this and more. What differentiates Stanford from most other schools is our robust community center model that supports your overall student life experience with a focus on identity development, community building, and holistic student success.

Research shows clearly that students who feel a sense of belonging at college do better academically and socially. The A³C community has provided that sense of belonging to our students, especially our first-years. Our professional staff --  myself, Dr. Jerald L. Adamos, Latana Thaviseth, and Dr. Sunny Trivedi -- are here to support you in your college journey. We provide personal advising, mentoring, and connections to campus resources and ways to become involved.

There are more than 60 different student organizations affiliated with the A³C. These organizations represent our very diverse community and include the Hmong Student Union, Stanford Cambodian Student Association, Tibetan Student Union, Muslim Student Union, Pilipino American Student Union, Stanford South Asian Society and Stanford Vietnamese Student Association. Whether your interests are theater, activism, dance, cultural programming, community service, martial arts, or fraternity/sorority life, there is an organization for you. 

A³C also offers a lunchtime Speakers Series that focuses on first-year transition issues. Topics include how to talk to faculty, how to manage stress, studying for exams, homesickness, and advice from upperclass students, faculty, and staff.  You can also choose to partake in our AASib program where you will be matched with other new students and upperclass students to help ease your transition onto campus and to gain more exposure to resources that many of the Asian American students take advantage of.

We know that maintaining mental health and wellness is very important. A³C offers the iLive program for undergraduates. Professional counselors lead discussions on how to manage financial, family, identity, and social stressors. CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) at A³C provides individual, private counseling sessions with an Asian American psychologist in the safety of our center.

The A³C provides a physical space as well. We have a computer cluster, meeting spaces, and a lounge for anyone to access. Students often hang out at the A³C between classes or study in the evenings.

Please contact us if you have any questions. Also check out our Facebook page and Instagram Account.

We hope that you will choose Stanford and join our community.

Linda, Jerald, Latana, and Sunny