FAST at UMD

The Filipino American Studies Program (FAST) began as a direct result of a request from the newly appointed Director of Asian American Studies, Larry Hajime Shinagawa. He asked Jonathan Sterlin and the executive board of the Filipino Cultural Association, a student-run organization who played a substantial role in the establishment of the University of Maryland's Asian American Studies Department, to lead this endeavor with the following three goals in mind:

1. To enhance the diversity of the University's course offerings by educating the campus community about the role Filipino Americans have played throughout the history of the United States and examining the culture, societal contributions, and contemporary experiences of Filipino Americans;

2. To partner with the Asian American Studies Department and representatives from the greater Filipino American community to develop the curriculum; and

3. To serve as a model for other ethnic groups to follow in the future development of diversity offerings at this University as well as other postsecondary institutions throughout the country.

The Filipino American Studies Program is integrally linked to the Asian American Studies Department at the University of Maryland, College Park whose mission is to provide students with the opportunity to study critically the experiences of Asian Americans.