Angela Rola - Director (1993-Present)

Angela Rola is the founding Director of the Asian American Cultural Center at the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus. She has developed a variety of programs focusing on the diverse Asian American community in both the State of Connecticut and across the nation. Angela has developed two mentoring programs, Asiantation Mentoring Program– a program for entering UConn students and K.U.B.E. (Kids & UConn, Bridging Education) – a community-based program for middle school students. In addition to directing the center, she also teaches a First Year Experience course, a course on Asian American Mentoring and Leadership, and lectures extensively in undergraduate and graduate courses on campus as well as other public and private schools, and for profit and non-profit companies nationwide. She is a diversity trainer for state mandated training and also develops site appropriate training programs.

Angela serves on the Advisory Boards of UConn’s Asian American Studies Institute and the Center for Academic Programs. She also serves on numerous committees and task forces throughout the University. From 1991-93 she was President of the UConn Asian Faculty & Staff Association and now holds an Executive Board position. In the state Angela is the Chair of the Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut, a committee of Connecticut residents who have successful worked towards the creation of the Asian Pacific American Commission.

In 2007, the University recognized Angela with the Outstanding Student Advisement and Advocacy Award. Her leadership in the community earned her an award in 2004 from SNEHA, Inc., a network of South Asian women in Connecticut, and recognition at the 13th Annual Ball of the Federation Filipino Associations in CT. She was named the 2002 Higher Education Multicultural Faculty of the Year at the 7th Annual CT Conference on Multicultural Education.

Sheila Kucko - Assistant Director

Sheila Kucko is the Assistant Director of the Asian American Cultural Center. She has been very fortunate to work at the Asian American Cultural Center since its opening in 1993. She received her BA from Dickinson College, with a major in Psychology, many moons ago. Having labored in corporate America before coming to UConn, she is much happier spending her working hours on a college campus. This transplanted Pennsylvanian has come to truly appreciate the joys of living and learning in Connecticut.

Sounthaly Thammavong - Graduate Assistant

Sounthaly Thammavong earned her Bachelor's Degree from the UConn majoring in History and Asian American Studies. This 1.5-generation Lao American refugee believes that the only way to succeed is to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. She worked at Asian Family Services, the only Mental Health and Substance Abuse Clinic for South East Asians in Connecticut as a HSI Case Manager and Interpreter. Sou was certified as a Medication Assisted Treatment Specialist, through the Connecticut Certification Board until December 2011 and as a Recovery Coach through the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. She also serves as the Secretary for the Asian Pacific Affairs Coalition of Connecticut. Sou is very pleased to pursue her Master's Degree in Social Work concentrating in Politcy Practice and to go back home to Asian American Cultural Center as a Graduate Assistant.