AARCC 20th Anniversary
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April's Featured Alumni: Raza Mojiz
1) What did you study and what degrees did you earn at UIC?
“I studied Finance and I earned a Bachelor’s in Business and Finance degree at UIC.”
2) What is your favorite memory of AARCC?
“Probably the first time I entered the AARCC, like knowing the space. I think that was the most exciting moment, especially as a transfer student not knowing where to go. What was it about? Meeting Jeff for the very first time. It was pretty awesome. Meeting Jeff [Alton] and Alyson [Kung] for the very first time was awesome. And Dr. Martell obviously. But just knowing that space and what the Asian American Resource Cultural Center has offered for students, I think that was like my first big memory. Seeing everyone that was there, and seeing my peers—and eventually those peers ended up becoming my friends later on—I think that was my favorite memory: my first time at AARCC.”
3) During your time at UIC, how did AARCC impact you and influence you to shape who you are now?
“I would say there is a lot. AARCC really did a lot for me in the sense of knowing about all the different cultural centers, knowing about different types of resources and scholarship opportunities since the AANAPISI grant, things of that nature.
Going about AAMP, being able to know that I can join an organization for a class that can help me. Have a mentor and then later become a mentee, and being a mentee and then later become a mentor—that was really big. But also being able to understand a community. I think AARCC also helped me understand and like the actual space of understanding people. And like really, really understanding what UIC has to offer in diversity. I think that was really big.
“I think my favorite thing that I’ve learned from AARCC in general was—what later on when I became like an AARCC employee—of how it’s all done behind-the-scenes like creating an event, and what goes into an event, and actually hosting it. And being able to create something for the students. That was like one of my favorite things to do is being able to create something, and then have a set game plan, and then following up and emailing and making all those calls.
“I remember being super late on the newsletter and things like that. But I remember how influential that was, like making things on time and being prepared. I think that was one of the things that really influenced me. Having a game plan and staying organized, that later helped me out once I got more and more jobs. But yeah, I think that was my favorite thing was understanding that and what an organization does and learning the behind-the-scenes of it, and being able to help others, so that was really cool.”
4) Why is having AARCC important at UIC or any campus?
“Just like any other cultural centers that we have at UIC, a lot of students need a resource and need a place that they feel welcome, right? Not just [based] off [of[ their own skin or diversity, AARCC welcomes all students from all races from all places across the world or anywhere, right? Anyone. But the reason why an Asian American Resource and Cultural Center is there because you kind of want those conversations [to] understand like the things that you’ve gone through as an Asian American student. Or not even that, but just even a place to be able to provide these resources to students.
“I remember my very first time going to AARCC and learning about all the different cultural centers—I didn’t even know there was more! That was like another cool thing, but I think the most important reason why AARCC should be at any campus is because students—not just Asian American students—but students need a place where they feel welcome, that has resources, that has the abilities to do the things that they need to get done.
“Like, AARCC provides so many resources. Just off the top of my head like the printing, the Lending Library —I used the Lending Library a few times for GLAS projects, but I think I also used one for one of my business courses as well. But like things that you kind of take for granted like access to the computer, being able to just have a space that you lunch at certain times, but just the conversation and being able to ask any questions to anyone and see where it goes. I feel like a lot of times as a student you want to be able to network, right? You want to be able to have a list of people that you can turn to. And be able to ask and have a resource. I think AARCC definitely provides that because as a student you kinda wanna be able to establish a network after you graduate and meet different people and create friends and create those bonds. I think AARCC does that.”
5) What are your well wishes for AARCC’s 20th Anniversary and what would you like to see for AARCC in the future?
“I think I would like to see AARCC expand even more along with other cultural centers. I think all culture centers should have more expansive spaces and more resources and more new opportunities. I would love to see more student-led projects, events, and things of that nature. I think that was awesome, not just as AARCC employees as well as the AARCC ambassadors. I think that they’ve done a phenomenal job. I know when I was an AARCC ambassador, we had so much fun with AARCC events and organizations and activities.
“Well wishes for AARCC’s 20th [anniversary]… Some of the best wishes I would wish is just seeing the next generation moving forward. Looking back I remember hearing about the history that’s behind AARCC, like the past employees such as Professor [Karen] Su and Elvin [Chan], and like meeting them in person and seeing how it even expanded back then, how like there wasn’t that room in the back wall at Taft Hall, it was even smaller and like seeing how much more space is created in more space and more space. I would just love to see that in the future and like generations of looking back as alumni and coming back and like different employees looking back at the whole thing of like how far and how much people not only, like, created the space, but how much went into it, how much petitions and how much sacrifice and how much time went into the actual space. And talking to chairmans and chancellors and all different types of people at the administration of UIC. I think that would be one of the wishes I would love to see for AARCC: just keep continuing to expand, continue to help students and continue to grow.”
Alumni Spotlight 2025
January: Abby Mohann
1. What did you study and what degrees did you earn at UIC? “I came in as a Bios, Pre-Med student and quickly realized the healthcare industry was not for me. It took me a long time to explore what else was out there and what was going to be the best for me. I switched to Computer Science, Education, Sociology and then finally graduated in Information and Decision Sciences with a focus in Management Information Systems which is also what I do now in my current role.”
2. What is your favorite memory of AARCC? “Too many to count, but I can never ever forget the feeling of opening the door to AARCC to a room full of smiles and people who love me. The countless Lunchboxes, AAAM events, and just the regular day to day conversations I got to have about topics that only a small handful of people would know about are memories I will carry with me forever.”
3. During your time at UIC, how did AARCC impact you and influence you to shape who you are now? “AARCC gave me the space to think for myself for once, question and learn and to accept and validate my own feelings and experiences. It changed the way I view the world and the way I see myself fit in it. Most importantly, AARCC gave me a safe space and home away from home.”
4. Why is having AARCC important at UIC or any campus? “As Asian Americans, there are very few spaces meant for us to just be us without having to consider who we are. Just being people. It’s also an important place of education and a special place of comfort and community.”
5. What are your well wishes for AARCC’s 20th Anniversary and what would you like to see for AARCC in the future? “I feel like just recently I was student staff and helping to prepare for the 15th anniversary, I cannot believe we are at the 20th anniversary already! I’m so happy to see AARCC get a new fancy space and to see many students enjoy the space and getting to experience the same wonderful times that I did there. In the future, I would love to see AARCC host a Chicagoland schools conference! Looking forward to what AARCC has in store for us!”
February: Adithyan Subramanian
1. What did you study and what degrees did you earn at UIC?
“I came in as a Bios, Pre-Med student and quickly realized the healthcare industry was not for me. It took me a long time to explore what else was out there and what was going to be the best for me. I switched to Computer Science, Education, Sociology and then finally graduated in Information and Decision Sciences with a focus in Management Information Systems which is also what I do now in my current role.”
2. What is your favorite memory of AARCC?
“Too many to count, but I can never ever forget the feeling of opening the door to AARCC to a room full of smiles and people who love me. The countless Lunchboxes, AAAM events, and just the regular day to day conversations I got to have about topics that only a small handful of people would know about are memories I will carry with me forever.”
3. During your time at UIC, how did AARCC impact you and influence you to shape who you are now?
“AARCC gave me the space to think for myself for once, question and learn and to accept and validate my own feelings and experiences. It changed the way I view the world and the way I see myself fit in it. Most importantly, AARCC gave me a safe space and home away from home.”
4. Why is having AARCC important at UIC or any campus?
“As Asian Americans, there are very few spaces meant for us to just be us without having to consider who we are. Just being people. It’s also an important place of education and a special place of comfort and community.”
5. What are your well wishes for AARCC’s 20th Anniversary and what would you like to see for AARCC in the future?
“I feel like just recently I was student staff and helping to prepare for the 15th anniversary, I cannot believe we are at the 20th anniversary already! I’m so happy to see AARCC get a new fancy space and to see many students enjoy the space and getting to experience the same wonderful times that I did there. In the future, I would love to see AARCC host a Chicagoland schools conference! Looking forward to what AARCC has in store for us!”
March: Donnie Chang
1) What did you study and what degrees did you earn at UIC? “I changed my major a few times, but ultimately I studied Psychology with a concentration in Pre-Dentistry and a minor in Asian American Studies.”
2) What is your favorite memory of AARCC? “Overall I really liked that it was a central place where my friends were and where my friends and I could go in between classes—you know, for breaks—and eat lunch or even have meetings like student organization meetings. There was a day where it was my birthday and my friends had surprised me with a lot of sweets, drawing on the whiteboard, and everyone surprising me as I walked into the AARCC conference room, so yeah, that was a good memory. AARCC used to be smaller in Taft Hall, and we literally broke down the wall to expand into that conference room. Before it was broken down, we were welcomed to paint and draw on that wall. A lot of people came in with different markers, sharpies, and paint and just covered the whole wall. Then, it was removed, and I think [Dr.] Karen [Su] kept a few pieces of the wall—I’m not sure if she still has them—but yeah, that was the first expansion of AARCC that I remember.”
3) During your time at UIC, how did AARCC impact you and influence you to shape who you are now? “I remember my first week at UIC, I was a transfer student from a small town in central Illinois called Bloomington. It’s predominantly a White population. I had one or two friends that were Asian, and everyone else was White. So when I moved to Chicago to attend UIC, I couldn’t handle the change. I took an Asian American class, and Mark Chiang was my professor at the time. He saw that I was struggling, so he introduced me to [Dr.] Karen [Su], who introduced me to the Asian American Mentor Program—or “AAMP”—and that’s when I first started going to AARCC. I met my friends through student organizations, and being around people that looked like me and had similar experiences was very comforting. It got me out of my shell. I was very shy, and I didn’t really know how to start a conversation with people, but AARCC and its many ties to various organizations helped me to come out of that shell. I became a part of different E-Boards and helped out with a lot of projects like “Asian American Appreciation Month”—which I think might have changed its name by now. But yeah, it was great to feel like I was a part of something with people like me.”
4) Why is having AARCC important at UIC or any campus? “AARCC isn’t just a place for students to meet or relax; they also provide resources. They can connect you with other organizations on campus like the Gender and Sexuality Center, or if you want to join any student organizations, they can introduce you to those student orgs. When I was there, if you needed to print a document quickly, you could do that. If you had questions about where to go, like ‘What direction do I go for this room or this building?’—they were literally there to help you with anything. To me, it was like a safe haven. It provided me a place where I could relax after my classes, where I knew my friends would be. It was a safe place. And I think every campus should have that space for any of their students—a spot where all different types of students can go or a space that caters to certain communities.”
5) What are your well wishes for AARCC’s 20th Anniversary and what would you like to see for AARCC in the future? “I’m glad that they have a bigger space now, and I know that’s something they’ve been wanting to do for several years. I hope that AARCC continues to expand and provide that safe space for all UIC students. I think it would be awesome if there were a library in AARCC—not just a bookshelf, but an actual room with a library, chairs, and lamps. That used to be at the old AARCC before the first expansion. There was a library room, and I’d love to see a room with books written by Asian American authors. I think that would be really cool. Maybe name it the “Donnie Library,” ha ha! I hope that AARCC continues to receive funding. I know they have the AANAPISI grants, but I hope money continues to come in for AARCC. It’s a great resource that students have and should take advantage of. I remember talking about this years ago, and it would be cool when we [AARCC alumni] make a lot of money and just donate to AARCC to open up a library or something.”
20th Anniversary Celebration
AARCC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration will occur on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in room 301 of the Student Center East, located at 750 S. Halsted from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The UIC community is invited, including alumni and Chicago partners, to attend this celebration. RSVP here.
Be sure to visit this page often to learn more about our upcoming 20th anniversary events!