In Memoriam: Remembering Alan Nishio

With deep sadness and gratitude, AAAS announces the passing of Alan Nishio, beloved Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, activist, community leader, mentor, and associate faculty in Asian American Studies. At CSULB, Alan mentored and supported generations of faculty, staff, and students at CSULB, especially low-income, underserved, and/or first-generation students of color. He died peacefully on December 27, 2023, at the age of 78 after battling cancer for over 17 years. 

Prof. Alan Nishio

Photo Credit: LTSC

“His life of activism and brilliant career include these roles: a founder of UC Berkeley’s Asian Americans for Political Action student group and member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Free Speech Movement in the 1960’s; a founder of UCLA’s Asian American Studies in 1968, serving as Director for two years; an administrator at CSULB from 1972 and later becoming Associate VP of Student Services until his retirement in 2006; a professor/lecturer in CSULB’s Department of Asian and Asian American Studies; a founder of the Little Tokyo People’s Rights Organization in the 1970’s; a founder and co-chair of the National Coalition of Redress/Reparations in 1980 (a grassroots organization that played a significant role in the redress campaign for Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II); and serving on the Board of Directors of LTSC, Kizuna, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and California Conference for Equality and Justice.”

– Little Tokyo Service Center, where Alan served as a long-time board member

Read more about Alan here:

Rest in Peace/Rest in Power – A Tribute to Alan Nishio, A Fierce and Gentle Warrior

OBITUARY: Alan Nishio, 78; Beloved Civil Rights and Community Leader

A Celebration of Life for Alan Nishio will be held on February 10, 2024 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Terasaki Budokan in Little Tokyo.            You can RSVP here.