Asian American Students’ Experience of Race at a Christian University in Southern California

Abstract

Issues of race on America’s college campuses are increasingly prominent in the current sociopolitical environment. This pilot study sought to understand Asian American students’ experience of race in one faith-based university in Southern California. Thirteen participants shared their stories as they experienced race on the university campus. All participants were between 18 and 23 years old, born in the United States, and ethnically Korean, Japanese, or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded using NVivo12 qualitative data analysis software. Two key themes emerged from the data: Campus Environment and Racial Identity Development.