Guest Message from Aaron Tuioti-Mariner, Program Manager, Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The month of May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month—a time of reflection, celebration, and recognition. As I think about what this month means to me, two important characteristics come to mind: perspective and attitude. How we view our heritage, and the attitude we carry toward our values, our identity, and how others perceive us, deeply shapes our experiences.

Reflecting on my own journey as a student and professional in higher education, I recall times when AAPI Heritage Month was not widely celebrated or supported—and other times when it was. Thankfully, over the past few years, I’ve seen significant growth in awareness, support, and recognition for the vibrant cultures and incredible people within the AAPI community.

I celebrate AAPI Heritage Month not only for myself but in solidarity with others who share in this identity. It is a celebration of the diverse cultures and ethnicities across Asian American and Pacific Islander communities around the world.

In particular, I proudly honor my Samoan heritage and my parents, whose sacrifices paved the way for greater opportunities for our family. Their strength, love, and commitment to preserving our culture not only shaped our home but enriched the wider Polynesian community. I am forever grateful.

For me, AAPI Heritage Month is a celebration of family, culture, and resilience. It is about honoring the many AAPI families who have overcome hardships with grace and contributed so much to our shared communities. From Asia to Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and the Pacific Islands, this month is about lifting up our stories, our traditions, and our legacies.

As we near the end of the academic year and gather to celebrate the achievements of our students, let us also celebrate our UNM Lobos who proudly live and share their AAPI identities. Their cultural pride is not only a source of inspiration—it is a reflection of strength and legacy.

At a recent celebration during Pacific Fest 2024, a representative from Samoa, Chief A’eau Hazelman, addressed dignitaries and shared the following:

“Your genealogy and your identity are non-negotiable. And in Samoa, we are here to ensure that our identity is never negotiable. In our ‘Ohana, our islands of the Pacific, too often the world sees us as small island states. But in the words of the late ‘Epeli Hau’ofa from Tonga: We are not small island states—we are the caretakers of the largest ocean in the world.”

Perspective and attitude are how we can truly honor and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month. It is not size, territory, or numbers that define our strength—but how we see ourselves and how we embrace our culture.

May we continue to support and uplift the diverse cultures and identities of our AAPI Lobos. With perspective and attitude, we celebrate a legacy of pride, strength, and love.

Thank you for supporting our UNM Lobos in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month.

Fa'afetai Lava (Thank you)!

Aaron Tuioti-Mariner

Call for DSA Video Participants

The Division of Student Affairs is looking for staff, students and campus partners interested in sharing their stories on how the division shapes the student experience. These spotlights will be featured in a promotional video aimed to coincide with the launch of the Innovating the Student Experience Strategic Plan.

Interested individuals and nominations can be submitted here. Interviews will be conducted beginning on Thursday, May 22, following the strategic plan launch party and will continue throughout the summer.

Thank you in advance for helping amplify our important work!

Manager of Orientation & Access Finalist Forums Scheduled for Next Week

The search committee has announced two finalists for the position of the Manager of Orientation & Access. You are invited and encouraged to attend each of the finalist forums next week which are open to UNM students, faculty and staff. The forums are a great opportunity to learn about each candidate’s experience and engage in open dialogue about why they are interested in the position.



The Manager of Orientation & Access is a newly created role within College Enrichment and Outreach Programs. This position will be pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of New Student Orientation programs and is an exciting opportunity for an innovative leader passionate about shaping student transition programming and advancing the institution’s mission centered on equitable academic excellence and student success practices.

Career Services Director Finalist Forums Scheduled

After a competitive nationwide search, the Division of Student Affairs is pleased to announce Marty Apodaca, Beverly Bracker, and Patric Lopez as finalists for the Career Services Director position.

This position will administer all aspects of career services, oversee the clinical supervision of career counselors, and will be responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing career service programs to prepare students for internship and employment opportunities by developing and collaborating with UNM colleges, community partners and global and national employers and recruiters.

Please join us at these forums to meet the finalists and learn more about their vision for Career Services at UNM.

El Centro de la Raza is hosting the Raza Stoling Ceremony, on Wednesday, May 14, from 6-8 p.m. at The Pit. This event is a meaningful occasion for students who are completing their degrees and would like to celebrate with El Centro.

The AISS Stoling Ceremony will show appreciation for the accomplishments of all students receiving undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees from UNM-Main Campus within the following semesters: fall 2024, spring and summer 2025. This event is open to all students earning a degree and is intended as an additional avenue to acknowledge this significant educational milestone.

You’re invited to join the Division of Student Affairs for the official launch of our Innovating the Student Experience Strategic Plan on Thursday, May 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mesa Vista Courtyard. 

The Division of Student Affairs is hosting a series of half-day, in person assessment professional development opportunities throughout Summer 2025. Sessions are open to any Student Affairs unit, and are intended to personalized, structured support to carry out elements of their assessment plans in a timely manner. Session topics include:

Student Learning Outcomes

Work on developing new or revising existing student learning outcomes for your unit with support from the Program Planning Officer for Student Affairs Assessment.

Analyzing Existing Datasets

Use this time to analyze an existing qualitative or quantitative dataset your unit has collected with support from the Office of Assessment and the Program Planning Officer for Student Affairs Assessment.

Reporting & Closing the Loop

Learn to create data visualizations, draft a report on your assessment findings, and develop a plan for implementing changes to your unit based on your findings with support from the Office of Assessment and the Program Planning Officer for Student Affairs Assessment.