SAN FRANCISCO: The annual conference of Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) will be held at Kabuki Hotel in San Francisco's Japantown from April 23-25. "APAHE: Flexing Our Political Muscle" is a national gathering of leading educators, elected officials and policy makers which was established 21 years ago to debate over exclusionary admissions policies intended to limit Asian Pacific American student enrollment.

Dr. Frank Chong, conference chairperson and president of Laney College, said that most of the Asian Pacific Islander Americans are overlooked because of their minority which is insignificant. A key forum will focus on the federal designation of "Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Serving Institutions," which was signed into a law in September 2007.

Other sections will also be there which will focus on issues like career development, women leadership, mental health and other issues affecting students and staff members.Warren Furutani, California Assembly Member, also one of the founder members of the organization will be the key speaker.

Other speakers include Dr. Robert Corrigan, President of San Francisco State University, Rocky Freitas, Hawaii Community College Chancellor, and Mike Honda who is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.APAHE will honor Angelo Ancheta, director of the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center, Maeley Tom, California State Personnel Board Member, Henry Der, former Deputy Superintendent of California Department of Education, and Assembly Member Furutani for their contribution to higher education.

The organization promises to bring together the leading experts in the fields of higher education, law and immigration. It is the only national, non-profit organization which focuses on issues impacting Asian and Pacific Islander American students and staff across the nation's colleges and universities.