MAASU Research Briefings

Scroll down to browse research briefings from previous years!

What Are Research Briefings?

MAASU Research Briefings are short-form, accessible publications that translate research, reflection, and lived experience into actionable insights for APIDA student leaders, advisors, and partner institutions. Grounded in qualitative and mixed-methods research, these briefings document the evolving realities of APIDA student involvement, leadership development, advocacy, and organizational sustainability across Midwest campuses.

MAASU Research Briefings highlight the process: how students learn to lead, how organizations adapt over time, and how community care and mentorship sustain leadership across generations. Designed for both scholarly and practitioner audiences, these briefings support evidence-informed decision-making while remaining readable and relevant to students and campus partners. Collectively, they serve as a living archive of APIDA student leadership, offering lessons that inform MAASU programming, advocacy priorities, and the broader ecosystem of student support in higher education.

Browse through the briefings below!

2025 Briefings

  • The Effects of Covid on Involvement and Engagement

    Conference: Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference at Columbus, Ohio, March 2025

    Authors: Jordan Peyton, Board of Advisors & Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Citation: Peyton, J. M., & Lee, M. (2025). The Effects of Covid on Involvement and Engagement within Collegiate APIDA Communities. Poster presented at the Association for Asian Studies 2025 Annual Conference, Columbus, OH.

  • Canaries on Campus Illustrating the Needs of APIDA Student Leaders in the Era of Dismantling DEI at Predominantly White Institutions

    Conference: Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference at Boston, MA, April 2025

    Authors: Jordan Peyton, Board of Advisors & Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Citation: Peyton, J. M., Lee, M., & Wang, S. (2025). Canaries on Campus: Illustrating the Needs of Student Leaders in the Age of Dismantling DEI at PWIs. Paper presented at the 2025 Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference, Boston, MA.

  • Limelight Legacy_ Reflecting on MAASU’s Past Executive Leaders

    Conference: Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS) at San Antonio, TX, November 2025

    Authors: Angelda Zheng, Research Fellow, Jordan Peyton, Executive Director, Jessica Lee, Board of Advisors, and Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Presented by: Jessica Lee, Board of Advisors

    Data Collection & Analysis Credits: Angela Zhang, Programming Chair and Jessica Lee,  Board of Advisors

    Analysis and Writing Credits: Jordan Peyton, Executive Director and Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Citation: Zheng, A., Peyton, J.M., Lee, J., Lee, M. (2025). Commedia dell’ Community: Building the Foundation Skills and Empowering Asian Student Leaders in Collegiate Spaces, Limelight Legacy: Reflecting MAASU's Past Executive Leaders. Paper presented at the 2025 Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS), San Antonio, Texas.

  • Enter Solidarity_ Guiding Asian Student Leaders Toward Empowered Campus Communities

    Conference: Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS) at San Antonio, TX, November 2025

    Author: Jordan Peyton, Executive Director

    Citation: Peyton, J. M. (2025). Commedia dell’ Community: Building the Foundation Skills and Empowering Asian Student Leaders in Collegiate Spaces, Enter Solidarity: Guiding Asian Student Leaders Toward Empowered Campus Communities. Paper presented at the 2025 Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS), San Antonio, Texas.

  • Casting Call_ What is Next for Direction Asian American Student Advocacy

    Conference: Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS) at San Antonio, TX, November 2025

    Author: Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Citation: Lee, J. (2025). Commedia dell’ Community: Casting Call: What is Next for Direction Asian American Student Advocacy. Paper presented at the 2025 Southwest Conference on Asian Studies (SWCAS), San Antonio, Texas.

  • Carrying the Torch_ What a 501(c)(3) Student Union Reveals About Building Leadership Legacies

    Conference: Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) Conference at Anaheim, CA, April 2026

    Authors: Jordan Peyton, Executive Director & Michelle Lee, Director of Assessment & Evaluation

    Citation: Peyton, J. M., Lee, M., & Wang, S. (2025). Canaries on Campus: Illustrating the Needs of Student Leaders in the Age of Dismantling DEI at PWIs. Paper

    Presented at the 2025 Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference, Boston, MA.

Author Positionality Note

Please note that the positions listed next to each author reflect the roles they held within MAASU at the time of the presentation or research briefing. These titles are included to provide context for the authors’ perspectives and do not necessarily represent their current affiliations or positions.