Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Dear Members of the NJCU Family,

Throughout the month of May, I invite you to join together in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. To the many members of our university community who identify as AAPI, thank you for sharing your rich histories, vibrant cultures, and remarkable talents with all of us, each and every day.

Our AAPI community continues to be among the most vital threads in the tapestry that has made NJCU one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse campuses in the nation. That tapestry is reflected back at us throughout Jersey City, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, and across Hudson County, where nearly 18 percent of residents identify as AAPI, making it a true melting pot for cultures from every corner of the world.

AAPI Heritage Month, as with other historically designated heritage months, invites us beyond mere observance; it calls us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the profound contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made, and continue to make, in the fields of art, government, business, healthcare, education, technology, and so many other areas shaping our shared future. These are not just contributions to American history. They are contributions to our story, here on this campus, in this city. 

The 2026 theme, "Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together," resonates deeply on a campus like ours. We have always known that our greatest strength is not found in any single voice, but in the chorus of all of them, in the solidarity we build across cultures, backgrounds, and generations. That truth has never felt more meaningful than it does today. As we close one remarkable chapter and open another as Kean Jersey City this summer, we take with us everything that has made this community extraordinary. The AAPI community is not simply a part of our history; you are a part of our future. The deep respect for every culture, every tradition, and every story that has defined this campus will not only endure; it will grow stronger in the years ahead. 

The AAPI community has profoundly shaped NJCU's cultural and social fabric, and I am proud and honored to join our students, faculty, staff, and community partners in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month this May.

Yours in service,

Andrés Acebo
President
New Jersey City University