SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Don Young, a veteran advocate for Asian American storytelling and experienced documentary producer, has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), the nonprofit organization announced Thursday.
After a nationwide search conducted by CAAM’s Board of Directors in collaboration with executive search firm Koya Partners, Young was unanimously chosen to serve as the organization’s new leader. He takes over from Stephen Gong, who is retiring after 18 years as executive director and a decades-long career in public media and arts administration.
Young, a 30-year veteran of CAAM, previously served as the organization’s Director of Programs. He was introduced publicly during Opening Night of CAAMFest 2025 at San Francisco’s AMC Kabuki Theater, before the screening of Third Act, a new film by director Tadashi Nakamura.
“Following a nine-month search process, the board has voted unanimously to appoint Don Young as the next Executive Director of CAAM,” said a joint statement from co-chairs Dipti Ghosh and Vin Pan. “Don’s work has shown him to be not only a filmmaker of innovative documentary films about Asian American lives, but a champion of inclusive representation in the world of independent documentary and public media.”
Young comes on board at a time when public arts and media institutions are facing greater budget constraints and changing cultural expectations. In the face of these challenges, however, he remained upbeat about the prospects for Asian American storytelling.
I’ve spent 30 years at CAAM. I’m more enthusiastic for our storytelling community than ever,” Young said in a statement. “The future generation’s talent is inspiring and unstoppable. I know it’s a tough time, but it’s a moment when we’ve got to come together and make community, care for each other, stand together, defend the work we all love.
A San Francisco Bay Area-born fourth-generation Chinese American, Young has been a leader in Asian American media for many years. He is a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
His producing credits also include various award-winning projects, including the Peabody Award-nominated Rising Against Asian Hate (2022), the groundbreaking PBS docuseries Asian Americans (2020), and Wayne Wang’s independent feature Coming Home Again (2020). Young was also integral to coordinating the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance and Rededication in Detroit (2022), and assisted in producing APIAVote’s 2020 and 2024 Presidential Town Halls, demonstrating his dedication to civic engagement and historical memory within Asian American communities.
Under Gong, CAAM expanded its presence through television, film festivals, and online. CAAM has for years been an essential hub for Asian American artists and audiences alike, creating shows for PBS and hosting CAAMFest, the country’s largest presentation of Asian American cinema, music, and cuisine.
In his role as Executive Director, Young will carry forward that legacy while leading the organization through an evolving media environment. He underscored the need for continuing inclusive storytelling in an era when independent voices and public funding come under increased scrutiny.
