Our Board of Directors
People are the heart of our organization—the driving force behind our mission. Their talents, passion, and dedication fuel the programs and services we provide, working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our vision to life.
Jeannie W. Salomon - Founder & Executive Director
Jeannie Salomon is the driving force behind the creation of the first-ever AAPI History Museum in the United States, a groundbreaking initiative ensuring that AAPI voices and histories are no longer overlooked. With a deep passion for historic preservation and community empowerment, she has transformed a long-standing gap in representation into a powerful movement for awareness, education, and change.
In 2024, under Jeannie’s leadership, the AAPI Mobile History Museum was launched, bringing history directly to communities across Rhode Island. Through four successful tours, the Mobile Museum sparked statewide conversations about the often-forgotten role of AAPI communities in American history. Its impact was undeniable—raising awareness, breaking stereotypes, and ensuring that AAPI stories were recognized as an essential part of the nation’s past.
With the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, Jeannie secured funding to establish a permanent brick-and-mortar AAPI History Museum even before launching the Mobile
Museum. While carefully evaluating bids to find the right builder, she ensured that the space would be constructed with both integrity and prudence – a fitting reflection of Rhode Island’s own history as a place of thoughtful governance and inclusion. Now, after months of planning and evaluation, the museum is about to open— in March 2025!
As the first-ever AAPI History Museum in the United States, this space will spotlight foundational AAPI narratives, untold stories, and Rhode Island’s unique place in AAPI history—including Providence’s Chinatown and its legacy as the first Southeast Asian refugee resettlement site.
This historic opening marks not just the realization of Jeannie’s vision but a milestone for AAPI representation nationwide. Soon, visitors will walk through doors that stand as a testament to resilience, identity, and the power of storytelling.
Naina Boveja - Director of Communications and Outreach
Naina Boveja brings extensive experience in communications, marketing, editing, event planning, mentorship, and the arts, along with leadership in the nonprofit sector, having run an organization from 2011 to 2016. With a compassionate and empathetic leadership style, she has built strong team connections and driven impactful results. As Director of Communications and Outreach at The Cultural Society, she is eager to apply her expertise to strengthen the organization’s presence through website management, social media engagement, and fostering connections in the art and museum space.
A second-generation Indian American, Naina takes great pride in her family’s collective successes as immigrants and is grateful for her parents’ tenacity. She looks forward to sharing her experiences and contributing to broader conversations on the Asian American experience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies from the University of
Maryland, a Certificate in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and History of the Art Market from Christie’s Education, and a Master’s Degree in Communication, Culture & Technology from Georgetown University. She has also volunteered at the National Museum of Women in the Arts and The Smithsonian, reinforcing her deep commitment to arts and culture.
Naina lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, trying new recipes, and spending time with family and friends.
Cindy Kim - Director of Cultural & Community Development
Cindy L. Kim is a musicologist and classical violist. She has taught a wide range of music courses at City University of New York, Framingham State University, and the Eastman School of Music. As a violist, she has performed as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician for over 20 years. Dr. Kim received her PhD in musicology and MM and BM in viola performance from the Eastman School of Music. Her research—broadly in the variation of performance ideals across cultures and periods and specifically in ornamentation and improvisation—has encompassed music of many genres, including nineteenth-century Italian opera and Korean traditional vocal music. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing fiction, swimming, traveling, and watching soccer with her family.
Edward Kuo -Director of Finance
Edward Kuo, Certified Public Accountant, has been in the public accounting field for 24 years. He is the partner of Marcovich, Mansour & Capobianco, LLC., a CPA firm in Lincoln, Rhode Island, which specializes in tax consulting & compliance, financial reporting, bookkeeping, business consulting, and business valuation. He is accredited in Business Valuation by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is also certified as a Chartered Global Management Accountant by AICPA.
He holds double Master of Science degrees in accounting and hospitality management.