Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

A message from Isabelle Bajeux Dean of the Tepper School of Business

May 1 marks the beginning of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a month in which we commemorate the contributions, culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

AAPI Heritage Month was established in 1978 by a joint Congressional Resolution that expanded the celebration from a week to a full month. Throughout May, communities come together to commemorate the achievements and contributions of AAPI people and celebrate their history through community festivals, government-sponsored activities, and educational events. The celebration of the AAPI community is all the more needed at this time, given the disturbing increase in crimes perpetrated against the Pan-Asian community.

Therefore, as we begin AAPI Heritage Month, I would like to ask all of you to take a moment to pause today and to remember the victims of the recent attacks on our Pan-Asian community. The Tepper community stands in solidarity with the AAPI community. It is our commitment and responsibility to support diversity here at the Tepper School, throughout the year.

I want to restate our condemnation of these senseless acts of hate and violence. Racism and discrimination has no place in our community, and I want the Tepper School to be a safe space for all faculty, staff, and students, regardless of race, gender identity, or any dimension of diversity. I encourage you to visit the Tepper Together: Commit to Change website for more information on the resources we have to enhance inclusivity for all at the Tepper School.

We hope that you will use this time to educate yourself and others about the rich history of AAPI peoples in the United States. The Tepper Together: Commit to Change resources provide a wide-ranging view of AAPI history that we hope you can use to further your understanding and appreciation of how AAPI communities have been a part of and have contributed to the great diversity that is one of the bedrocks of this country.

Sincerely,
Isabelle Bajeux
Dean, Tepper School of Business