Welcome Letter from our Director
“As a student on financial aid and work study I knew the value of every moment at Stanford. I am grateful that the A³C was there to help me. It was a safe and inclusive place where I was valued, challenged, grew, learned, and built community.”
ANU '99
Congratulations Class of 26! I am Jerald Adamos, Interim Associate Dean of Students and Director of Stanford’s Asian American Activities Center (A3C), one of seven community centers on campus. We are so disappointed that we won’t be able to meet you in person to talk to you about what Stanford has to offer. We are creating virtual events and will be participating in an Admissions panel later in April. Check back later for more information.
In the meantime, 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 around the country. Most will offer you extraordinary academic and research opportunities. What Stanford offers that most of these other schools do not is our community centers.
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, Latana Thaviseth, and Gillyn Maung -- are here to support you in whatever way you need. 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 Greek life, there is an organization for you.
A3C also offers a lunchtime Speakers Series that focuses on freshman transition issues. Topics include how to talk to faculty, how to manage stress, studying for exams, homesickness, and advice from upperclassmen, faculty and staff. You can also choose to partake in our AASib program where you will be matched with other new students and upperclassmen 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 lounge for anyone to access. Students often hang out at the A3C between classes or to study in the evenings.
Please contact us if you have any questions:
Jerald Adamos, jladamos@stanford.edu
Latana Thaviseth, latana@stanford.edu
Gillyn Maung, gmaung@stanford.edu
Or reach us via our Zoom office hours posted on our homepage. Also check out our Facebook page and Instagram Account.
We hope that you will choose Stanford and join our community. May you and your families stay safe and well.
Jerald, Latana, and Gillyn
