Congratulations to Don Nakanishi, ’71, who was awarded the Yale Medal at this year’s AYA Assembly. The Yale Medal is awarded by the Association of Yale Alumni “to honor outstanding individual service to the University.”
Don with AAAYA members at the Yale Medal dinner, November 15, 2008.
Continue reading for Don’s full bio:
Don T. Nakanishi has been a tireless supporter of the Admissions Office since his undergraduate days and has been a strong advocate for Yale’s diversity efforts in student and faculty recruitment and academic programs. For nearly three decades, he has chaired the Alumni Schools Committee of Los Angeles County, which interviews over 1,200 applicants annually, and has written a highly praised newsletter that helps incoming Southern California freshmen and their parents make the transition to Yale. He has also served as an AYA delegate and an AYA Board member. Nakanishi, son Thomas (Class of 2005), and wife Marsha established a prize that is awarded annually to two seniors who have contributed most to advancing ethnic relations at Yale. Nakanishi is the director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, the leading program of its kind in the nation.