Alumni

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

FY24_APAHeritageMonth

UC Alumni Association Celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

From the inventor of the Pentium computer chip to one of the world’s premier sculptors, to the innovative coroner who helped create one of the country’s most technologically advanced crime, the University of Cincinnati has a rich tradition of achievement by our Asian, Asian-American and Pacific-American alumni.

For this reason, the UC Alumni Association proudly marks Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month — celebrating generations of UC excellence reflected in our past and promised in our future.

APA Alumni

Marvin Abrinica

Marvin Abrinica, A&S ’98, Bus ’02, is CEO of Wunderfund, which supports small businesses and startups looking to raise capital; and co-founder of Esoteric Brewing Co., one of Cincinnati’s first minority-owned breweries.

Thiyagarajan Upaassana

Thiyagarajan Upaassana, PhD, CEAS ’22, is the founder and director of Perceive Now, Inc., a nationally recognized, AI-driven startup that helps businesses’ decision-making on mergers and acquisitions, academic research and development, funding trends, and thriving in a competitive landscape.

Tony DelaRosa

Tony DelaRosa, A&S ’12, is CEO and founder of Tony Rosa Speaks LLC, and author of the forthcoming book, “Teaching the Invisible Race: Embodying a Pro-Asian American Lens in Schools.” He recently won the, "Community Trailblazer Award for AAPI Unsung Heroes," from The Asian American Foundation and will be featured on the Hulu Series: TAAF Heritage Heroes (May 2023).

Yogini (Kanthi) Biswas

Yogini (Kanthi) Biswas, CEAS ’02, is VP of Marketing and Chief Brand Officer for Brighthouse Financial, one of the largest providers annuities and life insurance in the U.S.

Cindy Chiang-Halvorsen and her family

Nine years after being named UC’s Homecoming Queen in 2002, Cindy Chiang-Halvorsen, CEAS ’04, and her future husband won Season 19 of The Amazing Race, using the $1 million top prize to start an education-based charity.

 Lourdes Harshe

A member of the UC Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Lourdes Harshe, BUS ’92, is a Tax Managing Director with Deloitte Tax’s Global Employer Services where she helps lead the firm’s workforce transformation efforts.

Minjin Kim

UC assistant professor of nursing, transcultural nurse implementation scientist and curator of Asian American storytelling Minjin Kim, PhD seeks to lift Asian voices to help defeat discrimination.

Bhavik Modi

Bhavik Modi, BUS ’15, is co-founder and CEO of Chicago’s Azadi Brewing Company, an innovative Indian-centric brewery that affiliates its products with Indian cuisine.

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2018 file photo, Aftab Pureval speaks during a campaign event in Cincinnati when he was running for U.S. Congress. Pureval, Hamilton County clerk of courts,  announced on Thursday Jan. 14, 2021, that he has joined a crowded field for this year's Cincinnati mayoral race. The current mayor, Democrat John Cranley, is term-limited from running this year after two four-year terms. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Elected mayor of Cincinnati in 2021, Aftab Pureval, LAW ’08, is the first Asian American mayor of a major Midwestern U.S. city. (Photo credit: John Minchillo/AP)

Dr. Lakshmi Kode Sammarco, MD

Hamilton County coroner, certified neuroradiologist and entrepreneur Dr. Lakshmi Kode Sammarco, MD, MED ’88, helped create one of the country’s most technologically advanced crime labs.

Rajiv Satyal

The only person to have performed standup comedy on all seven continents, Rajiv Satyal, CEAS ’00, has built a multifaceted career as a comedian, podcast host, blogger and speaker.

 sculptor Norikazu “Tom” Tsuchiya

The work of renowned sculptor Norikazu “Tom” Tsuchiya, A&S ’95, has immortalized a wide variety of figures, notably athletes, in displays ranging from universities and churches to ballparks and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Alyssa Park

The youngest-ever prizewinner in the Tchaikovsky International Competition, world-renowned violinist Alyssa Park, CCM ’96, is Concertmaster of the New West Symphony and member of the Lyris Quartet.

Leo Chan

A widely recognized IT visionary and expert in mobile telelphony and wireless broadband access, Leo Chan, BUS ’01, is Executive Director of the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Vinod Dham

Vinod Dham, CEAS ’77, developed the original Pentium processor at Intel, unleashing a revolution in the computing field and the way the world operates. He became known in his industry as the “Father of the Pentium.”

Nominate a Bearcat

Nominate a Bearcat alumnus for a future heritage or awareness month alumni spotlight.


Make a Gift

Make a gift to the Asian Studies Discretionary Fund to support the students and programs of the College of Arts and Sciences Asian Studies department.