The faculty, students and staff of the CSUMB Social Work Department are excited to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Month which is recognized every year in May.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) social workers have played a critical role in shaping culturally responsive care, immigrant and refugee services, and community-based mental health both in the United States and globally. Their work often bridges formal social work practice with grassroots organizing, addressing gaps in services for historically underserved populations. Many have also contributed to international knowledge exchange, disaster response, and transnational community support. We share a few of their contributions here and invite you to become familiar with their extraordinary work.
One prominent figure is Sumiko Hennessy, a Japanese American clinical social worker and educator whose career has focused on trauma, cross-cultural mental health, and professional training. She helped establish culturally grounded mental health services for Asian communities in the U.S. and worked extensively in Japan, training practitioners and strengthening global collaboration in social work education and practice.
Noreen Mokuau, a Native Hawaiian social worker and scholar, has been instrumental in developing Indigenous-centered social work frameworks. Her work emphasizes culturally rooted healing, community empowerment, and the importance of integrating Native Hawaiian values into health and human services. Through research and teaching, she has influenced both U.S.-based and international Indigenous social work approaches.
Dr. Nazneen Mayadas, an Indian American social worker, is widely recognized for her contributions to international social work and social work education. She served in leadership roles within global social work organizations and advocated for cross-national collaboration, migration studies, and culturally competent practice. Her work helped expand the global perspective within U.S. social work training programs.
Evelyn Lee, a Chinese American clinician and scholar, has made significant contributions to understanding the mental health needs of Asian Americans. Her work focuses on intergenerational trauma, family dynamics, and culturally appropriate therapeutic practices, helping to reshape how mental health services are delivered to AAPI populations.
Dr. Joyce K. M. Hwang has contributed to the field through research and teaching on aging, caregiving, and immigrant family systems. Her work emphasizes the needs of older Asian Americans and has informed both domestic policy and international perspectives on aging populations in diaspora communities.
Patti Tana, a Pacific Islander social worker and educator, has been active in developing culturally relevant curricula and mentoring Pacific Islander students in social work. Her work focuses on representation, workforce development, and ensuring that Pacific Islander communities are not overlooked in broader AAPI policy and service frameworks.
Dr. Lois Takahashi, a Japanese American scholar whose work intersects social work, public health, and urban studies, has examined homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and community health disparities. Her research has had both national and international implications, particularly in understanding how marginalized communities access care in urban environments.
California’s own Janlee Wong, MSW, served as Executive Director of the NASW California Chapter and retired in 2021 after 25 years in the position. During his tenure as the chapter’s executive director, he worked on several social justice and anti-racism initiatives, including expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in NASW’s leadership and membership; increasing professional development education focusing on practice and policy in communities of color; and advocating for progressive legislation promoting racial and social justice reform. He visited CSUMB’s MSW program every year to meet with our students during his tenure.
Contemporary AAPI social workers, including those involved with organizations such as the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), continue to lead efforts in mental health advocacy, stigma reduction, and culturally grounded care. Many engage in international collaboration, particularly in refugee resettlement, disaster response, and global mental health initiatives.
Additionally, Asian American feminists and social justice advocates have significantly shaped the intellectual and political foundations that inform AAPI social work practice. The landmark anthology This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color includes influential Asian American contributors such as Mitsuye Yamada, Genny Lim, and Nellie Wong, whose writings foreground intersectionality, labor, gender, race, and identity. Their work challenged mainstream feminist movements to confront racism and class inequality, while also pushing Asian American communities to address patriarchy and internal hierarchies. These feminist perspectives have deeply influenced social work by emphasizing lived experience, coalition-building, and the importance of centering marginalized voices—principles that continue to guide culturally responsive and justice-oriented practice.
AAPI social workers and aligned feminist thinkers have made lasting contributions by integrating cultural knowledge, advancing equity in service delivery, and connecting local practice with global perspectives. Their combined efforts highlight the importance of intersectionality, community empowerment, and international collaboration in addressing complex social challenges. We celebrate their achievements and commit to learning from them. We also celebrate the Asian American and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who enrich our campus community in countless ways.
