Events
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month (APIDA)
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians, Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) encompasses people from all of the Asian continent, India, and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Read this article with highlights that recognize the achievements of USF's APIDA community members.
2024 university Calendar of Events
The University of South Florida recognizes that Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month is nationally celebrated in May each year. Due to the academic semester ending in May, we invite the USF community to celebrate APIDA Heritage Month beginning in the month of April.
Explore the events below, then login to BullsConnect for more APIDA Heritage Month events.
Bull Market Showcase
Wednesday, April 3 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | MSC Plaza
This open air, weekly market hosts a combination of vendors, student organizations, USF Departments, and not-for-profit organizations showcasing their products and services to our ever-growing student population. After over 25 years on campus, Bull Market has become one of the largest and oldest traditions at USF!
Be sure to explore the Showcase at Bull Market featuring student organizations and departments
Hosted by: Marshall Student Center and Office of Multicultural Affairs
APidA & MENA Heritage Months Celebration Lunch
Wednesday, April 24 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | MSC 2708
Join the Office of Multicultural Affairs as we celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month and the Middle Eastern North African (MENA) Heritage Month at the University of South Florida! This luncheon features keynote speakers, student performances, testimonials, and the celebration of the both communities on our campus.
Hosted by: Office of Multicultural Affairs
Get connected with Asian Pacific Islander Desi American student organizations on the Tampa campus:
- Malaysian Student Association
- Asian Students in America (ASiA)
- Students of India Association
- Vietnamese Student Association
- Chinese Students and Scholars Association
- American Cultured Desi
- Korean American Student Association
- Chinese Culture and Language Club
- Bangladesh Student Association
- Journey to the East
- Apex Interest Group
- Vietnamese International Student Association
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
- Bull Bhangra
- Pakistani Student Association
- Association of Filipino Students
- Japanese Culture Club
- Bulls Nakhra
- SoFlo Raas
- Bulls Afsara
Greek Organizations:
- The Chi Chapter of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- The Theta Chapter of Delta Epsilon Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- The Alpha Zeta Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.
- The Alpha Alpha Chapter of alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc.
- The Lambda Chapter of Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc.
- The Mu Mecca Chapter of Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc.
View Sparks Magazine at USF, a nonprofit organization that supports a student-run publication and provides a mixed-media platform for the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) community. The magazine highlights stories and narratives about Asian and Asian-American experiences. They want to bring a voice to an otherwise unheard demographic, and expand the conversation from within the Asian/Pacific Islander community, to outside of traditional spaces.
The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Committee is charged with advising the President on matters pertaining to issues facing Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi, and South Asian American USF faculty, staff, and students; and evaluating and monitoring the university environment for issues and successes related to these matters. Connect with the APIDA Committee via email.
Visit the East Coast Asian American Student Union and learn how you can get connected to students with this identity, network, develop professionally.
Visit the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center that brings Asian Pacific American history, art and culture to you through innovative museum experiences online and throughout the United States.