Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi and Asian American (APIDAA) students, staff and faculty are integral to the Case Western Reserve University community—bringing diverse perspectives, leading cultural organizations and celebrating meaningful traditions.
In recognition of APIDAA Heritage Month, observed each May, The Daily is sharing the stories of three community members whose heritage has shaped their experiences and strengthened their connections on campus.
Read on to get to know them.
Cynthia Kim
Four-year advisor, assistant dean, Undergraduate Advising Support Office
As a leader in Case Western Reserve University’s Undergraduate Advising Support Office, Cynthia Kim excels at building supportive, meaningful relationships with students. The care she brings to her advising work reflects the values and traditions of her Korean heritage.
“My Korean heritage has shaped my life in many ways,” she said. “Core values like hard work, a strong belief in education, and a commitment to helping others were instilled in me by my family and culture, which has definitely influenced why I chose to become an advisor.”
Kim was born and raised in Los Angeles, the daughter of South Korean immigrants who met in California after arriving in the U.S. separately. After spending eight years in Boston, she moved to Cleveland—where she’s been part of the CWRU community since 2022. Kim first served as assistant director of faculty affairs in the School of Medicine before stepping into her student-focused role in the Division of Student Affairs. She also graduated from CWRU’s MBA program this month.
Kim’s cultural background doesn’t just shape her professional purpose—it’s something she actively shares. From celebrating Lunar New Year with Korean treats and stories to wearing a hanbok while visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in South Korea, she takes pride in honoring her roots.
“I grew up practicing many cultural traditions,” she said, recalling memories of Korean language school, bowing to elders, and making tteokguk for seollal. “If I have a family one day, I hope to celebrate my future childrens’ baek-il and teach them the Korean language.”
Last year, Kim visited South Korea for the first time—a meaningful trip that allowed her to meet extended family and immerse herself in the culture her parents passed down.
As she reflects on her time at CWRU, she sees value in how the university celebrates diverse identities.
“My colleagues have always been supportive of learning about each other’s backgrounds,” Kim noted. “I always find it an enriching experience to learn from each other.”
Abhinendra Singh
Assistant professor, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Growing up in Dholpur, a quiet town on the edge of Rajasthan, India, Abhinendra Singh quickly learned the value of hard work, humility and perseverance. Those lessons—many passed down by his maternal grandfather—would guide his path from modest beginnings to becoming an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve.
At CWRU, Singh leads a diverse research group that spans multiple disciplines, including chemistry, physics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering physics, and computer science.
Singh credits his APIDAA background with shaping his outlook on both research and teaching. The values instilled in him from a young age—humility, intellectual curiosity and determination—now form the foundation of his mentorship style.
“These values have guided me to dream big, ask questions fearlessly, and pursue my ambitions with determination,” Singh noted. “Growing up in a small town with limited resources has given me a profound appreciation for the transformative power of opportunity and support, which I strive to provide to my students.”
At CWRU, Singh said he’s found an environment that not only encourages innovation but also celebrates cultural identity.
“CWRU has been incredibly supportive of my cultural identity, providing an inclusive environment where new thoughts and ideas are supported and appreciated,” he said. “This supportive atmosphere has enabled me to create a lab culture that respects and values everyone’s background, fostering a sense of belonging and community.”
That spirit extends beyond the lab. Singh has embraced opportunities to share Indian traditions with the broader university community—particularly during two of his favorite celebrations: Holi and Diwali.
“In [my department], the [Macromolecular Student Organization] organizes a monthly happy hour… I proposed that we celebrate Diwali with Indian food and decorations during the month of the festival,” he said. “This initiative was warmly embraced, and we all celebrated Diwali together.”
To Singh, Diwali remains a particularly powerful reminder of his roots.
“Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance,” he said. “This celebration is a reminder of the importance of hope, positivity, and the continuous pursuit of knowledge and goodness in life.”
Nethra Velanki
Rising second-year, biomedical engineering
When Nethra Velanki arrived at CWRU last fall, she knew what she was looking for: a sense of community that would let her be fully herself. Raised in Franklin Park, New Jersey, by parents who immigrated from India, she’d grown up steeped in her heritage—celebrating holidays, wearing cultural dress, and proudly sharing traditions with friends.
“I have grown up celebrating my culture and sharing this culture with the people around me, especially in high school,” she said. “I knew I wanted to continue this in college so I knew I had to join a group who would want to do the same.”
At the same time, Velanki was thinking about her future—and how to make a meaningful impact. She chose to major in biomedical engineering, drawn to its combination of innovation, problem-solving and purpose.
“Biomedical engineering allows me to solve medical problems through innovation and engineering,” she noted. “It’s how I can make maximum impact on the world around me.”
That blend of identity and intention made her first year at CWRU a balancing act—but a rewarding one. Her search for connection led her to the Indian Student Association (ISA), where she joined the board as a first-year representative.
“Of every club I was part of this year, ISA is the one I call my home and the other members of the board I call my family,” she said.
ISA gave her a place to be “authentically yourself,” she said, without needing to explain who she is or where she comes from. It also gave her some of her closest friends—and a chance to keep cultural traditions alive even hundreds of miles from home.
This past year, she helped organize some of ISA’s most popular events, including a campus-wide garba celebration attended by hundreds of students. The evening was loud, colorful, joyful—and especially meaningful to her.
“Garba is a night of celebration, celebrating the triumph of good over evil,” she explained. “Celebrating such a meaningful holiday with so many people of the CWRU community made me so proud of my heritage.”
Diwali, her favorite holiday, also took on new meaning this year. It was the first time she celebrated it away from home—but not alone.
“My friend and I hosted a Diwali celebration in my room and invited a bunch of friends to celebrate with us,” she said. “There was nothing too extravagant but just spending time together in our cultural clothes, eating small snacks that my friends and I made was really special to me.”