Asian American Studies Spring Lecture Series

Asian Americans in Community Building led by Dr. Linh Nguyen, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, NIU

The AAPI community is the fastest-growing community in the United States, yet, we have the least representation in elected offices at all levels. Join Dr. Nguyen (Dr. Win) as she speaks about her experience as an Asian American leader in the DeKalb County community.

Dr. Nguyen was the first Asian American to serve as the President of the League of Women Voters of DeKalb County. To further her commitment to serving the DeKalb County community, the AAPI community, and people of color, Dr. Nguyen stepped down from the President position to run for the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Office. As a Vietnamese American immigrant who is not always seen or accepted as an American citizen, Dr. Nguyen takes on the unique challenges as a minority leader and a political candidate in a conservative county.

Dr. Nguyen did not win in the last election, but she laid a stepping stone for the next AAPI leader to run for a seat in local government. She built a unique coalition of diverse, creative, energetic, talented ordinary humans who call DeKalb home. Dr. Nguyen showed DeKalb County what "us" looks like- Black, White, Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islanders, People of Color, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, and queers. She challenged that "citizen" is not a status or a document but a set of responsibilities.

Zoom Registration Link: https://niu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-mhrD0pHNZvie2gXyqC7G8cG49gZOWU