This fall, William & Mary will celebrate 100 years since the first Asian student enrolled at the university, leading the way for hundreds of other Asian and Asian-American students, faculty and staff to follow.
by Erin Zagursky | February 15, 2021
A century ago this fall, Pu-Kao Chen ’23 left Shanghai, China, to enroll at William & Mary, becoming the university’s first Asian student and opening the door for hundreds of Asian and Asian-American students, faculty and staff to follow and create their own firsts over the next 100 years.
William & Mary is now preparing to mark that anniversary with a multi-year commemoration, beginning this semester and culminating with the 2022 Commencement ceremony. The Asian Centennial will celebrate all those at W&M, past and present, who identify as Asian or of Asian ancestry, including those from Southwest Asia – often referred to as the Middle East.