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LEAKHENA NOU
(Photo: Leakhena Nou)
Leakhena Nou is ASRIC’s Executive Director. She is Associate Professor of Sociology at California State University, Long Beach and a Visiting Scholar at the Asian Pacific American (A/P/A) Institute at New York University. Dr. Nou is an active advocate for the Southeast Asian community at the national and international levels, serving as the chair of the University of California Irvine Libraries Southeast Asian Archive advisory board (2010-2012) and on the editorial review board of the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement (2006-present). Dr. Nou’s research interests center on the epidemiology of social stress and health/illness, political sociology, and human rights. Specifically, she investigates the stress process as it affects first- and second-generation survivors of the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975-79). This research focuses on the role of negative life events as well as “daily hassles” in predicting the psychosocial well-being of Cambodian adult refugees and the post-Khmer Rouge generation. She is currently conducting research on the current Khmer Rouge Tribunal and is examining related issues of reconciliation, reparation, and healing. Other recent research investigates symbolic meanings of human sex trafficking in contemporary Cambodia. As ASRIC’s Executive Director, Dr. Nou oversees all facets of the organization, including but not limited to planning, fundraising, programming, research, and development.
CATHY SCHLUND-VIALS
(Photo: Cathy Schlund-Vials)
Cathy Schlund-Vials is ASRIC’s Public Relations Officer. Dr. Schlund-Vials is currently Associate Professor at University of Connecticut and holds a joint appointment in English and the Asian American Studies Institute. She is also the Director for the Asian American Studies Institute. She is the author of two monographs: Modeling Citizenship: Naturalization in Jewish and Asian American Writing (Temple University Press, 2011) and War, Genocide, and Justice: Cambodian American Memory Work (forthcoming, University of Minnesota Press, 2012). She has published and forthcoming essays in Life Writing, Journal of Asian American Studies, MELUS, Modern Language Studies, American Literary History, positions, Embodying Asian/American Sexualities (edited by Gina Masquesmay and Sean Metzger), Transnationalism and the Asian American Heroine (edited by Lan Dong), War Baby/Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art (edited by Laura Kina and Wei Ming Dariotis), and Asian American Identities and Practices (edited by Jonathan H.X. Lee). Dr. Schlund-Vials is currently working on a third book project, tentatively titled “Imperial Coordinates,” focused on wark, militarized zones, internment camps, and relocation centers. As ASRIC’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Schlund-Vials is
responsible for ASRIC’s press releases, newsletters, and publicity
materials. She is also the primary
contact for the organization with regard to community and public communication.
TEDDY YOSHIKAMI
Theodora (Teddy) Yoshikami is ASRIC’s Associate Director. Ms. Yoshikami is an independent cultural
consultant who works at the local, national, and global levels. In addition to working with ASRIC, she
develops cultural education programs for and in Mongolia. She
previously served as the Manager of Public Programs at the American Museum of
Natural History (New York City), where she conceptualized, developed and
implemented cultural and cross-cultural public events specific to Museum
exhibits and the Global Weekends until her retirement in 2011. Ms.
Yoshikami has a Master’s degree from New York University in Performance
Studies.
Ms. Yoshikami has a varied background in the arts and cultures as producer, grant writer, researcher, administrator, and performer. A constant advocate for the preservation and support of the diversity of cultures and related educational programs in all mediums, Ms. Yoshikami has curated and worked collaboratively to develop programs that give voice to various communities, including those in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Prior to her work with ASRIC, Ms. Yoshikami received grants from the Smithsonian Institution, the Center for Museum Studies (in Diversity, Leadership and Museums), the New Jersey Historical Commission (for oral histories of residents of Seabrook, NJ), the New York State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. As ASRIC’s Associate Director, Ms. Yoshikami works closely with the Executive Director in all areas as needed, assists with community outreach, oversees the overall budget directives, and is responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the organization.
Ms. Yoshikami has a varied background in the arts and cultures as producer, grant writer, researcher, administrator, and performer. A constant advocate for the preservation and support of the diversity of cultures and related educational programs in all mediums, Ms. Yoshikami has curated and worked collaboratively to develop programs that give voice to various communities, including those in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Prior to her work with ASRIC, Ms. Yoshikami received grants from the Smithsonian Institution, the Center for Museum Studies (in Diversity, Leadership and Museums), the New Jersey Historical Commission (for oral histories of residents of Seabrook, NJ), the New York State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. As ASRIC’s Associate Director, Ms. Yoshikami works closely with the Executive Director in all areas as needed, assists with community outreach, oversees the overall budget directives, and is responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the organization.
ISAIAS SARMIENTO
(Photo: Patrick Lentz)
Isaias Sarmiento is ASRIC’s Director of Finance. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics from California State University, Fullerton and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of California, Riverside. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, a CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELOR(sm) designee, and an IRS Enrolled Agent. Presently, he works for the Massachusetts non-profit organization “Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.” as the Financial Literacy Coordinator. In this position, he educates and counsels families on sound money management practices, including credit monitoring, income tax planning and preparation, and first-time home ownership. For many years, Mr. Sarmiento worked as an editor and writer of mathematics curriculum, including a senior editorial position at the major publishing house Houghton Mifflin Company. As ASRIC’s Director of
Finance, Mr. Sarmiento is responsible
for handling the financial portfolio for the organization, including all
matters related to reporting, filing, and maintenance. He is also responsible
for maintaining and updating ASRIC’s online presence.