Governor’s Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs Announces 2025-27 Commissioners | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa - Today, the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs announced the appointment of 28 commissioners that will make up its 2025-27 advisory board. The Commission's purpose is to gather information regarding AAPI Pennsylvanians' experiences and needs; review, evaluate, and assess programs affecting them; provide the Governor with information and recommendations regarding how best to meet their needs; and serve as a liaison from the Governor's office to the community, providing information about programs and services that may be relevant to the needs of AAPI Pennsylvanians. The Commission was established by Governor Josh Shapiro through an Executive Order.

"It is my distinct honor to work alongside these exceptional leaders from across our Commonwealth who are devoted to uplifting the voice of the community at the highest level in the Commonwealth's government" said Executive Director Razin Karu. "While there are challenges to improve access to economic opportunity, education, healthcare, public safety, and public transportation, the Shapiro Administration is committed to intentional community engagement to come up with solutions to some of the most pressing concerns faced by all Pennsylvanians."

Throughout the last two years, the Commission on AAPI Affairs worked across the Shapiro Administration to address the concerns of AAPI Pennsylvanians head on and made meaningful investments to advance opportunity in communities across Pennsylvania. This includes improving language access for state government programs and services, doubling investments in community and economic development grants, and doubling the investments in protecting the safety and security of communities vulnerable to hate crimes throughout the Commonwealth.

The Commission Chair and members are listed below.

Wei Chen, Philadelphia County, Chair

Aminah Arshad, Dauphin County, Vice Chair

Paresh Birla, Bucks County

Subhi Brenner, Delaware County

Ren Egawa, Montgomery County

Fred Faylona, Dauphin County

Raihan Izimbetova, Allegheny County

Susan Jin Davis, Chester County

Marwan Kreidie, Philadelphia County

Cindy Lam Guo, Lancaster County

Nagi Latefa, Lehigh County

Hyeonock "Mel" Lee, Montgomery County

Leilani Mears, Butler County

Abdul Mughees Chaudhri, Chester County

Jennie Nam, Philadelphia County

Cat Nguyen, Philadelphia County

Tilak Niroula, Dauphin County

Uday Palled, Allegheny County

Arthur Pang, Allegheny County

Shahidul Partha, Montgomery County

Bong Pil Yang, Montgomery County

Vasu Singh, Northampton County

Vicki Sundara, Montgomery County

Saedullah Taraky, Erie County

Wilson Tong, Delaware County

Oliver Truong, Philadelphia County

Suryakala Vankatadri, Cumberland County

Hong Zhang, Allegheny County

To learn more about the Governor's Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs, follow the Commission on Facebook.

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