4th CUAFA Annual Gala Dinner: A Night of Celebration, Reflection, and Community

On March 1st, 2025, CUAFA members and friends gathered in the Skyline Dining Room at Faculty House for the 4th Annual Gala Dinner—a memorable evening filled with warmth, celebration, and community spirit. Over 100 guests—including colleagues, students, parents, alumni, and sponsors—came together to honor the leadership, contributions, and achievements of Asian faculty members at Columbia.

The evening was graced by several distinguished guests, including Executive Vice President Wafaa El-Sadr, University Senate Executive Committee Chair Jeanine M. D'Armiento, Columbia Asian Alumni Association President Ying Yen, and other university leaders and long-time supporters of CUAFA.

Photo credits: Professors Shan Zha, Fred Jiang, and Anil K. Lalwani.
Check out more fun moments in our Google Photos Album.

CUAFA President Professor Anil K. Lalwani opened the evening with words that captured the heart of the occasion:

“Looking around this room tonight, I see an extraordinary gathering of scholars, mentors, leaders, and friends—each of you embodying the strength, diversity, and excellence of our Asian faculty community and allies here at Columbia.”

Joined by President-Elect Professor Ying Wei, Professor Lalwani presented service awards to retiring Executive Committee members Professors X. Edward Guo, Xin Zhang, and Sankar Ghosh, recognizing their dedicated leadership. Immediate Past President Professor Yiping W. Han was also honored for her exceptional service and numerous contributions to the community, from fundraising to community-building and collaborative leadership. In her remarks, Professor Han reflected on CUAFA’s progress over the past year and its growing impact:

“As I reflect on these past two years, I am filled with gratitude. It has been a tremendous honor to serve CUAFA, and I’m deeply grateful for the support of our members, allies, and donors. I am confident that under Dr. Lalwani’s leadership, CUAFA will soar to even greater heights.

The audience was treated to a soulful performance by Uptown Vocal, Columbia’s student jazz a cappella group, adding a celebratory rhythm to the evening.

The evening’s program continued with recognition of outstanding faculty. Professor Sankar Ghosh of the CUAFA Awards Committee presented the Young Investigator Award to Dr. Kelley Yan, Warner-Lambert Assistant Professor at Columbia’s Center for Human Development. Dr. Yan delivered an inspiring acceptance speech that resonated with many in the room.

Professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, University Professor and Chair of the CUAFA Awards Committee, presented the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. David Ho, renowned researcher and Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. Dr. Ho offered a heartfelt reflection on the meaningful—and at times humorous—moments of his research career.

Today, CUAFA is a vibrant network of nearly 400 members. As we look ahead, the work of supporting and uplifting our academic community feels more vital than ever, as Professor Lalwani’s reminder of the purpose that continues to guide us:

“Our association was founded with a clear mission: to support, promote, and advocate for the achievement and advancement of our faculty. ”

The 2025 Gala was not just a celebration of individual accomplishments, but a testament to the strength and solidarity of our shared journey.