John J. Chin Appointed Interim Dean of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute, Which Reports to Queens College
—Chin to supervise day-to-day functioning of the CUNY-wide institute—which focuses on issues that are relevant to Asia, Asian America, and other Asian diasporas—and provide vision and guidance—
Flushing, NY, September 18, 2024—John J. Chin has been appointed interim dean of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI). AAARI is a CUNY-wide institute reporting to Queens College whose mission is to facilitate and disseminate research, scholarship, and educational materials on issues that are relevant to Asia, Asian America, and other Asian diasporas, including timely concerns pertaining to New York’s diverse communities of Asian descent. It is located at 25 West 43rd Street in Manhattan. As interim dean, Chin will supervise the day-to-day functioning of the institute while providing the vision and guidance to ensure its visibility, viability, and leadership in Asian American/Asian studies, scholarship, advocacy, and outreach. He will report to Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Price.
“AAARI is an intellectual hub that serves as a bridge between CUNY and Asian American/Asian communities in New York City and beyond,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “As we seek permanent leadership for the institute, John will be an exemplary steward of its mission, particularly as it relates to immigrant-led community advocacy and public policy affecting immigrant worker health.”
Chin, who resides in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, comes to Queens College from Hunter College, where he was a professor and department chair in the Department of Urban Policy and Planning. Diana Pan, an associate professor of sociology at Brooklyn College who served as interim executive director, has returned to her position there. A search for the permanent dean will be conducted over the coming year.
“We are thrilled that John Chin has assumed the role of interim dean of AAARI,” said Price. “He brings a welcome combination of academic heft and community-focused leadership experience, and we’re most fortunate to have him at the helm of this important CUNY-wide Institute.”
Chin’s research focuses on access to social and health services for under-served urban communities, particularly Asian immigrant communities. His National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research has examined the role of Asian immigrant-led community institutions in delivering HIV prevention and stigma-reduction messages to their constituents. He recently completed an NIH-funded study of HIV risk, working conditions, and experiences with law enforcement for Asian immigrant women working in massage parlors in New York City and Los Angeles County. Chin has served as principal investigator on research projects totaling more than $6 million in funding. He was most recently the principal investigator of the Hunter College AANAPISI Project (HCAP), funded through two grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead AAARI into its next chapter, building upon the groundbreaking work of its founders and previous directors,” said Chin. “The rich history and vibrant presence of Asian Americans in New York City and state deserve greater recognition. Drawing on the wide range of expertise and passion of CUNY faculty and students, AAARI is uniquely positioned to illuminate these stories and foster a broader understanding of our communities’ needs and contributions.”
Chin was a member of the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council and is currently the chair of the National Advisory Committee for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Scholars Program. Prior to his academic career, he helped found the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (now a federally qualified health center known as Apicha Community Health Center, with locations in Manhattan and Queens), where he served as deputy executive director. Chin also worked in the NYC Office of the Comptroller and the NYC Commission on Human Rights. He earned a BA from Cornell University, an MS in Urban Policy Analysis from the New School for Social Research, and a PhD in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
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