You’ll often hear MBA programs tout their geographic locations as a benefit to your business school experience. We certainly love our “sweet home, Chicago” for its museums, Lakefront trail, dining scene, and more, but we also appreciate the blend of racial and ethnic backgrounds that make up the fabric of our city. In honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we want to help you explore the resources available to Asian American and Pacific Islander students, as well as the ways in which all of Booth can learn more and celebrate the diverse cultures that comprise this heritage. We’ll start hyperlocal by familiarizing you with Booth-specific resources and work our way to the offerings across the city we call home.
With over 80 student-led clubs and organizations, you’ll find no shortage to connect with students who have an array of interests and passions. Whether you’re focused on professional support or looking to explore new and existing interest areas, there are plenty of groups for you to join as a Boothie. For those looking to further connect with individuals who share their cultural, regional, religious, or personal affiliation, there are opportunities to do that as well. These include the Asian American Student Association, Chicago Asia Pacific Group, Greater China Club, Japan Club, Korean Business Group, and South Asian Business Group. These student groups share a goal to help create a tight-knit community for those who self-identify with these backgrounds as well as connect with others who have an interest in their cultures.
As part of the University of Chicago, Booth students have access to a plethora of resources that are housed in different offices across campus. The largest of these is The Center for Identity + Inclusion (CI+I), which is home to the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ Student Life, and Student Support Services. The CI+I seeks to create inclusive communities by improving intercultural communication across campus populations, and promoting student advocacy to enhance the university experience.
In addition to these resources for students, The University of Chicago is home to the Oriental Institute, which is celebrating 100 years of researching over 10,000 years of history. By visiting the museum, you’ll get to explore 350,000 artifacts while learning about the beginnings of human life and how people forged a collective identity in the ancient Middle East.
The Asian culture in Chicago is incredibly deep and diverse. Chicago is home to the Chinese American Museum, whose permanent exhibit, “Great Wall to Great Lakes,” explains Chinese migration to the Midwest through immigrant stories. You’ll also find the Japanese Culture Center, which allows the public to explore martial arts, crafts, and philosophical teachings from Japan. In 2012, Illinois also became the first state to formally adopt the Cambodian Day of Remembrance led by the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial.
If you prefer to explore culture in the form of supporting local businesses and exploring diverse cuisines, you’ll have no shortage of opportunities to do that across the city as well. A visit to Devon Street is where you’ll find a hub for South Asian immigrants while West Argyle Street Historic District has a diverse representation of delicacies and storefronts from across Asia. Not to mention Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood where Chinese statues, pagodas, tiled archways, and storefronts packed with customary treats and traditional wares reflect the rich culture of eastern Asia.
As you consider pursuing your MBA at Chicago Booth, we hope you’ll explore these resources and many more!
Read about Michelle’s journey as a career switcher, as she optimized her MBA to pursue a career in people and organizational development.
Catching Up with Michelle Kim Cullen, '19
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Established in 2008, the O’Brien Family Fellowship is an award given to one Full-Time Booth MBA student every year. In addition to having ties to the state of Minnesota, students must demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic, and extracurricular achievements.
Spotlight On: The O’Brien Family Fellows