About the Center

The Lotus Mana Center is a welcoming space and open to all students, regardless of identity, who are interested in exploring and understanding the Asian and Pacific Islandar diasporic experiences and engaging in productive dialogue and community with others.

When engaging with the Lotus Mana Center, visitors/students/guests will be able to:

• Experience a stronger sense of belonging, see themselves authentically reflected and feel their stories and perspectives validated through the physical space, programs and services.
• Advance academic success, connectedness and empowering leadership and gathering with the community.
• Expand community and institutional partnerships to enhance learning, outreach and student leadership through events, club support and engagement
• Contribute to and benefit from an environment that values meaningful dialogue, collective relationships and asset-based practices to retain our students

The center fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment by providing a variety of tools, resources and opportunities that support students’ holistic development and transformation throughout their college journey. The center serves as a valuable resource for any student who seeks to develop their cultural competency and contribute to a campus environment that values diversity, connection and a shared commitment to the success of all students.

To learn more about the specific programs and events offered by the center, please visit our services page.

About the Initiative

The Asian and Pacific Islander Academic Retention Initiative promotes academic excellence, connectedness and empowering leadership and is informed by federal and institutional frameworks such as the Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) designation, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). 

The initiative aims to help students: 

• Identify campus resources and programs that promote and uplift students and scholars. 
• Develop self-advocacy and self-awareness skills to strengthen student autonomy in educational environments. 
• Construct a definition of success that aligns with students’ cultural values, personal vocations and overall purpose.  
• Establish networks of care, mentorship and professionalism to support student goals. 

Through academic support, mentorship, leadership development and student-centered programming, the initiative plays a critical role in student retention by ensuring that all participating students, regardless of identity, have the guidance and community necessary to persist and graduate. 

What constitutes as "Asian and Pacific Islander"?

We recognize that the Asian and Pacific Islander community is full of diverse identities and backgrounds. Additionally, our partners at MENASA Resource Center are also available to provide support. Given the multiplicity of our diasporas, Asia and the Pacific Islands are generally identified by the following regions and modern-day socio-political country names. Additionally, the country names listed below are limited to the continental affiliations and may not be reflective of cultural norms and values espoused by folks who identify as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 

5 Regions of Asia

• Central Asia
  • Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan  
• East Asia
  • China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau
• South Asia
  • Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Iran, the Maldives
• Southeast Asia
  • Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam
• Western Asia
  • Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

3 Regions of the Pacific Islands (Pasifika or Oceania)

• Melanesia
  • Fiji, New Caledonia, West Papua and Makulu Islands, Solomon Islands, Torres Strait Islands, Vanuatu
• Micronesia
  • The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands
• Polynesia
  • American Sāmoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Kingdom of Hawaii, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Rotuma, Sāmoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna