In reflecting on the many accomplishments of NPIEN and its membership in 2010, we must pay special tribute to Founding NPIEN Board Member Iosefa (Sefa) Aina, who was appointed as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). President Obama signed an Executive Order in October 2010 to reestablish the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Daphne Kwok, a past NPIEN conference presenter, serves as Chair of the Commission. Other Commission members include Debra Cabrera, Kamuela Enos, Frances Eneski Francis, Farooq Kathwart, Hyeok Kim, Ramey Ko, Rozita Villanueva Lee, Sunil Puri, Amardeep Singh, Unmi Song, Dilawar Syed, Khampha Thephavong, Doua Thor, Hector Vargas, and Hines Ward.
Congressman Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa recognized Sefa for his work in the Asian and Pacific Islander community, and noted that Sefa's grassroots experience will be a tremendous asset to the Commission. "I look forward to working closely with the President’s Advisory Commission. I am proud of Sefa’s success and I wish him the very best as he begins this endeavor.”
Sefa remains a strong supporter of NPIEN, and we are very proud of his appointment as a Commissioner. Congratulations to Sefa from all of your friends at NPIEN!
