About Asian American Scholar Forum
Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promoting belonging, freedom, and equality for all. In response to heightened anti-Asian sentiments and profiling in the U.S., AASF has been a leading national voice fighting for the rights of Asian American and immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars. AASF membership includes members from the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Science, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, in addition to past and current university presidents, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, and past and current department chairs.
Website: https://www.aasforum.org
Social Media
Brand and Logo
Primary: #1D1D77
Secondary: #B59F78
Accent: #849BFF
Accent: #F7F0CD
Press Releases
Quotes
About the Organization’s Mission
“At the Asian American Scholar Forum, we believe that the future of U.S. innovation and leadership depends on ensuring that all scholars, including Asian American scholars, are treated fairly and with respect,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “Our mission is to protect civil rights, promote contributions, and ensure that scholars have a seat at the table in shaping policies that affect their work and lives.”
About Leadership Philosophy
“Leadership, to me, is about listening first — ensuring that every scholar’s experience is seen, heard, and valued,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “It’s about building coalitions, bridging divides, and working relentlessly to create lasting change. True leadership means lifting others up, advancing fairness, and paving the way for future generations to thrive without fear or barriers.”
About Current Initiatives or Vision for the Future
“We are building a future where Asian American scholars are celebrated for their contributions, not scrutinized because of their heritage,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “Through partnerships, education, and high-level advocacy, we drive systemic change to create a more fair and innovative research environment. Looking ahead, AASF is committed to expanding our data initiatives, strengthening legal education partnerships, and amplifying scholar voices to ensure that America remains a beacon of opportunity for all.”
Gisela Perez Kusakawa
Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum
Gisela is the Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), a national non-profit and non-partisan organization that works to promote belonging, freedom, and equality for all. Kusakawa is a civil rights attorney admitted to practice law at the District of Columbia and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She has been a trailblazer and expert on policy and advocacy on anti-profiling, national security, and civil rights, having appeared on multiple media publications such as Bloomberg, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NBC News, Science, Nature, NPR, Law 360, Financial Times, and MIT Technology Review.
Both in her current and prior roles, she spearheaded coalition efforts to end the Department of Justice’s “China Initiative” and prevent any future iterations through numerous legislative efforts, such as in the appropriations bill. She was the lead legal strategist and drafter for amicus briefs in support of high-impact cases, such as for Dr. Xiaoxing Xi and Dr. Feng “Franklin” Tao.
Kusakawa was formerly the Founding Director & Supervising Attorney of the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security department at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, one of the most prominent Asian American national civil rights organizations in the country. She has also been a staunch advocate for immigrants, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, with one of her proudest accomplishments being able to win a grant of asylum for a mother and daughter from Honduras. Kusakawa is a recipient of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Washington D.C.’s Rising Star award, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Law Foundation Community Law Fellowship, and the Justice Thurgood Marshall Civil Liberties Award for her public interest work. She is a leader in the Asian American civil rights and legal community, having served or currently serving on multiple non-profit boards including the Asian Pacific American Bar Association Education Fund, the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership, the National Filipino American Lawyers Association, and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Washington, DC, where she was a founding member and is also their President.
Prior to her legal career, she served under AmeriCorp to address the educational, social, and financial needs of low-income immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Ohio, particularly from West Africa and Central America. She has extensive experience in multiple countries as a former Rotary Scholar and then teacher in Japan, studying Mandarin in Beijing, conducting research on IT development in the Czech Republic, and promoting business and job development in the rural villages of the Philippines.
