Greetings from the Chair
Welcome to the UCLA Asian American Studies Department!
Asian American Studies was created to address the longstanding inequities in education and research. The field calls attention to the histories and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and the important heterogeneity within these communities. It brings together perspectives from different fields in the creative arts, humanities and social sciences while at the same time seeking to maintain a commitment to activism and to the needs of our communities. For over fifty years, UCLA has been a leader in the development of Asian American Studies across the nation. Our department offers a space for students, scholars, artists and activists to come together to learn, grow and innovate. In addition to academic scholarship, our curriculum emphasizes community involvement and offers opportunities for engaging in the creative arts. In research, our faculty push the field towards new directions of study such as considering the role of colonialism, immigration, racial formation and transnationalism.
We invite you to explore our website to find out more about Asian American Studies at UCLA. Our website is updated frequently, so please check back often for the latest information about events, news, courses, profiles, collaborations, links, and ways to get more involved.
Natalie Masuoka
Chair, Asian American Studies Department