About

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.