Yale alumni across the country are coming together to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Year of the Fire Horse) through regional events organized and hosted by the Association of Asian American Yale Alumni (AAAYA).
The events range in size, scope, and formality, from casual potluck get-togethers held at private residences to 10-course banquets at upscale restaurants that included lion dances and musical performances.
Caroline Nguyen ’13, who leads the AAAYA-Southern California chapter, which held its Lunar New Year event in Los Angeles in partnership with local alumni from the Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance and the Asian American Alumni Association of Princeton, emphasized the important bonds and connections that are fostered and strengthened through such meaningful cultural gatherings.
“Every year, I am reminded of just how strong this network is and how great the demand is to connect with fellow alumni across different interests, generations, and a wide variety of professional industries,” she said. “People don’t just want to reminisce. They genuinely want to meet others and learn about each other’s crafts and skills. That connection spans far beyond our shared history at Yale and is nurtured by a shared, lifelong curiosity.”
Nguyen, a senior project manager at a university program that links researchers to partners in the private and public sectors to address complex challenges, added that these and other AAAYA family-friendly events help cultivate future generations of Yalies.
“We’ve had alumni bring their children, who have since applied and been accepted to Yale,” she said. “Witnessing the lengths people will go to foster these relationships is what truly fuels this community.”
Jenny Mei ’13, co-chair of the AAAYA-Northern California chapter and a physician and clinical assistant professor in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at a major university hospital, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the strong camaraderie within the alumni community.
“Alumni of all ages have a great time reconnecting with old friends who have been coming for years and also meeting new alumni,” she said. “I was inspired by how open alumni were connecting with one another across varying age groups and backgrounds.”
According to Mei, the robust attendance at the AAAYA-NorCal Lunar New Year potluck in San Francisco reaffirmed the continuity and connections between Yalies of different years and ages.
“We had a great turnout of young alumni this year, which also brings exciting energy,” she said. “I hope that attendees found a source of community with whom to celebrate this annual event.”
Tiffany Co ’94, who oversees the AAAYA-Chicago chapter, was delighted that those who attended their Lunar New Year event were able to experience the festivities of this major Asian holiday while also learning more about its cultural significance.
“It was a joy to see people of different backgrounds coming together to embrace and celebrate a holiday that they would not have done so otherwise,” she said. “By understanding another culture better, we become a stronger community.”
Co, a senior director at an international credit rating agency, expressed her satisfaction at seeing how much alumni gain from their active engagement with AAAYA.
“What I like the most is hearing people telling me that they appreciated the chance to be involved and that they learned something new while having a lot of fun,” she said.
Mike Jin ’13, head of the AAAYA-Boston chapter, which hosted a Lunar New Year brunch in collaboration with the Yale Club of Boston, was pleased with the number of alumni who attended their event.
“It’s great seeing so many people turn out to support our events, which shows the strength of our alumni group,” he said. “I hope people feel a genuine sense of community and connection, especially for transplants new to the Boston area.”
Jin, a scientist and head of Algorithms and Research at a software company specializing in medical and scientific datasets, underscored the value of such local alumni gatherings, particularly for those far from loved ones.
“Not everyone has family or friends in the area who share in these holiday traditions,” he said. “I really appreciate the opportunity to connect alumni across different classes and help build bridges, especially for newer graduates.”
