Southeast Asian American Student Center
UWM operates several different centers to support students in their academic, personal and professional growth, and we aim to enhance students’ knowledge and skills both inside and outside the classroom. UWM is also dedicated to preparing our students to meet workforce demands at the regional, state and global levels. The services provided by these centers play a vital role in helping students deepen their understanding of different perspectives and collaborate more effectively with people from various backgrounds and experiences. The centers regularly collaborate with each other and other campus units to provide exceptional programming and services to students, faculty, staff and the community. The centers and their programs and events are open to all students. Some programs and events may also be open to faculty, staff, and the community.
The Southeast Asian American Student Center (SEAASC) was founded in the early 1990s to provide academic support to students who were refugees and/or children of refugees from Southeast Asia. While our center was founded with a mission to uplift and empower students who self-identify as Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, or Vietnamese, today we proudly serve individuals from all backgrounds. We offer resources, programs, and community connections designed to foster success and belonging for everyone who walks through our doors.
Our History
Following the Vietnam War, Southeast Asian refugees and their children began enrolling at UW-Milwaukee during the 1980s. These students—Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, or Vietnamese—often encountered unique challenges as first-generation college students, requiring guidance to navigate campus life and meet academic expectations. In response, the Southeast Asian Student Academic Services (SASAS) was established in 1991 under the College of Letters & Science to provide dedicated advising and support.
In 1998, UWM alumnus Dao Vang assumed the role of SASAS coordinator, guiding the office through multiple name changes and relocations within the university. By 2017, the center became part of UWM’s multicultural student centers under the Division of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity (at the time known as Global Inclusion and Engagement), adopting the name Southeast Asian American Student Center (SEAASC). Today, SEAASC has broadened its mission by promoting a welcoming campus environment for all students and enhancing campus and external collaborations to bolster the talent pipeline and meet workforce demands.