2025 Theses Doctoral

Asian American Community Leaders in Southern California: An Intrinsic Case Study

Ahn, Brian

This dissertation examined seven Asian American community leaders in Southern California and their roles in fostering leadership and mentorship within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Conducted over three years, this case study utilized interviews, document reviews, and observations of community building.

The study addressed key questions:

1) How did the leaders create resilience within their AANHPI communities and in their work? 1a) What motivated them to pursue justice for the AANHPI community?
1b) What actions did they take to develop a network of mentorship for the next generation? 2) What leadership aspects did they aim to pass on?
2a) How did they remove barriers to leadership development? 2b) What effective leadership styles emerged within their organizations?

Key findings revealed six patterns in AANHPI leadership, including building collaborative relationships, transitioning from informal to structured mentoring relationships, and highlighting the role of learning from experience. The leaders also advanced servant leadership and cross-community support while enacting leadership at various levels within AANHPI communities and encouraging emerging sources of leadership. Ultimately, this study provides insights into resilience and collaboration within AANHPI communities in Southern California and suggests future steps for the Asian diaspora in the United States.