About Us

Mission Statement

The SDSU APIDA Center is open and available to all members of the SDSU community. We work to facilitate the academic and personal success of students by providing relevant and accessible programming, resources, and services that support academic achievement, community-building, on- and off-campus partnerships, and advocacy. We are committed to the inclusion of APIDA people’s unique histories, cultures, and perspectives in campus programs and curriculum. At our core, the APIDA Center strives to increase the voice and visibility of APIDA students, faculty, and staff. We also support allies and those wanting to learn more about the APIDA community. All are welcome here!

Center Staff

Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan is the inaugural Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Center at San Diego State University. She opened the APIDA Center during the pandemic on June 1, 2020. She strives to establish an inclusive and supportive community for APIDA-identified students, faculty, and staff. She is also the Founder and Chair of the SDSU APIDA Employee Resource Group. Previously, she served as a faculty member in SDSU’s College of Education where she directed the Liberal Studies program, coordinated several international travel abroad programs, led teaching credential programs, coordinated clinical practice and EdTPA efforts, and taught various courses in education and literacy. Prior to working at SDSU, she was a K-8 classroom teacher, community college reading instructor, and program chair for an online university. She is the 2016 recipient of California Reading Association’s Marcus Foster Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in reading. She has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education, specializing in Learning Disabilities (K-12), from the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, she received the "Outstanding Woman Scholar in Education" award. She earned her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Literacy from SDSU-USD in May 2008; her dissertation—for which she received a ChLA Beiter Graduate Student Research Grant award from the Children’s Literature Association and for which she has published peer-reviewed articles and conducted presentations—was a qualitative study on the cultural authenticity of Asian-American children's literature. She has authored over 400 children's books and has several academic publications about using multicultural children and young adult literature. Most of her books and research address APIDA themes. She is serving on various book award committees and is the Cover Editor and Book Nook columnist for "The California Reader," the premiere professional journal for the California Reading Association. She is also serving as the Co-Executive Director and Director of Curriculum Development for The Asian American Education Project; she is committed to ensuring APIDA histories and narratives are taught in K-12 and beyond. Her hobbies include reading, crafting, gaming (tabletop board games), playing piano, and binge-watching shows.

Mr. Matthew H Garcia is the APIDA Center's inaugural Associate Director. He started working at the APIDA Center on April 11, 2022. Matt is originally from Santa Maria, a small town on the Central Coast of California. He attended California State University, Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Studies and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs from San Diego State University. Matt has extensive management and programming experiences. He has worked at SDSU for over seven years serving in various positions starting in Student Organizations & Activities before transitioning to the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life where he most recently served as the Interim Director. (Fun Fact: SDSU has the fourth largest fraternity and sorority community in California.) Matt identifies as a member of the APIDA community as he was raised by family members who immigrated from the Philippines, including his father. Besides identifying as Filipinx, he also identifies as a member of the Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities. Matt is in charge of the APIDA Center's advising initiatives and supports programming and outreach efforts. In his free time, he enjoys exploring new restaurants and activities in San Diego.

  Ms. Angela Marie Subido

  Assistant Coordinator of the APIDA Center

 

Ms. Angela Marie Subido is the Assistant Coordinator for the APIDA Center. She attended the University of California Santa Barbara where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Asian American Studies and a minor in Applied Psychology. She has spent the past five years participating in meaningful work that addressed the needs of youth, students, people with disabilities, and low-income families in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and San Diego. She is passionate about serving the APIDA community with creative outreach through food distribution, art sharings, educational discussions, and health services. She draws inspiration from the people she meets and is excited to help make those ideas come to life. She identifies as Filipino American and has lived in San Diego for the majority of her life. Her hobbies include cooking, engaging in fitness activities, enjoying live music events, and spending time in nature.

 

Student Staff