The Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union (MAASU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that began in response to a need for political unity among Asian Pacific Islander American students in the Midwest. By 1990, there were more than 20 universities in the Midwest that had formed Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) organizations. Some had been around for years, while others were still in their infancy.
Students felt a need for an organization that would support the growth of their groups and organize Midwestern Asian Pacific Islander American students for political activism. MAASU works to recognize the needs of the Asian Pacific Islander American community by assisting schools with the establishment of Asian Pacific Islander American student organizations, promoting leadership among students, addressing educational needs and rights of the Asian Pacific Islander American community, and developing a channel of communication among Asian Pacific Islander American student organizations across the Midwest.
MAASU strives to recognize the needs of the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community by
Our primary outreach is to undergraduate college students located in the Midwest region. We are broadening our scope to include high school students and graduate students.
On average, around 20 colleges and universities are engaged with MAASU annually spanning the following states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
MAASU strives to recognize the needs of its community by developing a strategic plan for the next few years. See our strategic plan for 2020-2024 here.