Meet our Board of Directors
Asians of America is guided by leaders who bring experience across nonprofit service, community engagement, media, business, education, and cultural advocacy. Together, they provide the governance and perspective needed to advance our mission responsibly and sustainably.
Joe Chan
Founder and Board Chair
Joe Chan is a nonprofit leader and cultural advocate whose work focuses on strengthening Asian American representation, preserving cultural heritage, and creating new ways for communities to connect with Asian culture. He has been actively involved with organizations including the Celebrating Asian American Heritage Foundation, Ascend Leadership, and The Movie Institute, supporting cultural programming, youth development, education, and community engagement.
Through Asians of America, Joe aims to build a lasting platform for telling the stories of Asian Americans and their contributions to the nation’s history, culture, and identity. His vision is for AoA to grow beyond individual projects, and into a trusted cultural and educational institution, one that documents overlooked histories, amplifies diverse community voices, and creates films, digital media, educational resources, and public programs that make Asian American experiences more visible and accessible. He hopes to help audiences better understand America through an Asian American lens, while demonstrating that Asian American history is an integral part of the broader American story.
Central to Joe’s work is the belief that culture is not only something to preserve, but something to experience and share. His interests span traditional arts, history, food, festivals, film, animation, gaming, music, and the broader world of Asian and Asian American pop culture. By combining nonprofit leadership with storytelling, media, and community programming, he hopes to make Asian cultures more accessible to wider audiences while helping Asian Americans see their histories and experiences more fully represented in the American story.
Justin Rojas
Founding Director & Board Secretary
Justin Rojas is a marketing, events, and entertainment professional with a career rooted in anime, gaming, esports, and pop culture. He is a co-founder and partner of Play Interactive and previously served as Vice President of Events for Envy Gaming and OpTic Gaming. Earlier in his career, Justin served as Director of Social Strategy at Funimation, where he developed a strong foundation in the anime industry and in helping bring Japanese entertainment and fandoms to Western audiences.
Throughout his career, Justin has worked as a host and speaker across a wide range of events and clients, including programs connected to Toei Animation and major franchises such as One Piece and Dragon Ball. Through Play Interactive, he works with major entertainment and lifestyle brands to produce large-scale fan experiences, competitive events, and experiential activations. His work includes ongoing programs with Bandai and its various divisions around properties such as the One Piece Card Game and Gundam Assemble, as well as projects with Warner Bros. Japan, Red Bull, and other global clients.
A consistent thread throughout Justin’s career has been helping bridge Asian entertainment, brands, and intellectual property with Western audiences in ways that feel authentic to both the original creators and the communities that support them. He also brings a strong background in marketing, business leadership, and public speaking, and has spoken to students, young people, and working professionals about careers, leadership, entrepreneurship, marketing, and opportunities within entertainment and gaming.
Through Asians of America, Justin hopes to help create greater visibility, mentorship, professional connection, and opportunity for Asian Americans, particularly younger generations building careers in creative and professional industries.