In the Winter of 2003, a diverse group of individuals decided to rededicate what was initially called the Ithaca Area Asian Association (founded 1997) and rename it with a renewed sense of dedication and purpose to the Ithaca Asian American Association.

The Association is located in the college town of Ithaca, New York, shared by Cornell University and Ithaca College. Surrounding Ithaca is a land of beautiful gorges, waterfalls, and sparkling clear lakes, as well as scenic mountains, verdant forests, and quaint farms that represent the Finger Lakes region of Central New York. Ithaca is home to a large Asian American population who constitute 17% of its total population.