SEATTLE, Wash. – Washington State University Director of Athletics Pat Chun is part of the 22-member class being inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame, Friday evening at the Sky View Observatory.
“It’s incredible humbling to be included with such and esteemed group into the Asian Hall of Fame,” said Chun. “I’m appreciative of the Robert Chinn Foundation and the Asian Hall of Fame for this honor.
“Hall of Fame recognitions are typically a reflection of so many people who have impacted a person’s life,” Chun continued. “In my case, I have too many to name but I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize a few important people. First, my mom and dad who immigrated from South Korea over 50 years ago in search of the American Dream. Their commitment to education and unparalleled work ethic still guides me to this day. Next, the incredible student-athletes, coaches and staff at Washington State University who I am fortunate to serve on a daily basis. This honor is also yet another example of the commitment at WSU to diversity, equity and inclusion. WSU President Kirk Schulz broke a glass ceiling with my hiring and I will forever owe him a debt of gratitude. Finally, my wife Natalie and daughters Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta. Their continued support and inspiration fuel my soul on a daily basis.”
Upon his hiring at WSU in January 2018, Chun became the 14th individual to lead Cougar athletics in school history and the first Asian-American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school. He also had another first in 2019, being named Under Armor Athletic Director of the Year, the first Cougar athletic director to receive the honor.
At WSU, Chun has instituted programs to benefit student-athlete welfare, including improvements to mental health awareness, as well as a commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives, while working closely with WSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Black Student-Athlete Association. WSU’s commitment to mental health awareness, under initiatives led by Chun, resulted in WSU Athletics being awarded the Washington State Psychological Association’s Public Citizen Award in 2018.
Additional accomplishments for Chun include the development of UNLEASH, a strategic plan for the advancement of WSU Athletics, while in July of 2020, he began a four-year term on the prestigious NCAA Division I Council, a high-level group responsible for the day-to-day decision-making for Division I. Chun also serves on the NCAA Division 1 Strategic Vision and Planning Committee as well as the NCAA Division 1 Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. Also in 2020, he was named co-chair for the newly formed Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council which serves as an advisory group for Social Justice & Anti-Racism within the conference.
This year’s Asian Hall of Fame festivities – in Seattle and also Los Angeles – benefits programming and its new Women in Tech & Entertainment Guild. The Robert Chinn Foundation will match up to $500,000 in contributions on GoFundMe or through the Asian Hall of Fame website.
The 2022 Asian Hall of Fame class is being inducted in two locations, the first coming Nov. 12 in Glendale, Calif and tonight’s event in Seattle. In addition to Chun, the Seattle inductees include fusion artist and music educator Daniel Pak, Soundgarden founder Hiro Yamamoto, Founder Emeritus Karen Wong, finance pioneers Robert and Ruth Chinn in memoriam and first indigenous inductee Virginia Cross.
The Asian Hall of Fame was established by Seattle’s Robert Chinn Foundation in 2004 to overcome anti-Asian bias by increasing awareness of Asian contributions in America and the world. Northwest inductees include Bruce Lee, Gary Locke, Apolo Ohno, sculptor George Tsutakawa, former Seattle Seahawk Manu Tuiasosopo, amongst others. Today the organization is a global recognition program. Year-round work advances hate crime reporting and advocacy, brain trauma, and digital equity.
