Monica Orillo’s graduate education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa served as a launching pad to…
Asian Studies Spring 2021 Graduates
As the 2020-2021 Academic Year comes to an end, the Asian Studies Department would like to congratulate our Spring 2021 Graduates.
BA Asian Studies
Hometown: Parma, Idaho
Area Focus: Japan, Southeast Asia
Research Interests: Traditional Japanese Culture and Japanese ties with Southeast Asia
Favorite Professors: Patricio Abinales, Hilson Reidpath, Mito Masaru, and Elizabeth Keith
Program Highlights: The large amount of courses available in many different fields of study within Asian Studies. Also, the great professors allowed for very informative classes.
Seth was given the opportunity to engage in many cultural experiences like Japanese culture festivals and tea ceremonies as a result of the Asian Studies program. After graduation, he wishes to take part in the JET Programme and go on to graduate school in Law. Seth is hoping to allow the greater insight into Asia to help his future studies and career.
“Thank you very much for the great classes and support that allowed me to graduate with an extreme knowledge base about Asia.”
Hometown: Kagoshima (Tokunoshima Island), Japan
Area Focus: Japan
Research Interests: Shimauta Culture: Folk Music of the Amami Islands
Favorite Classes: Okinawan language, Bollywood Dance & Film
Program Highlights: Different cultural experiences through language and history classes. I enjoyed learning traditional art and performances of Asian countries.
Iroha has participated in the International Student Services Internship and was also a research assistant for Dr. Kristi Govella’s project. She also presented her UROP project “Role of social media in contemporary Shimauta culture in the Amami Islands” at the UHM SPR21 Showcase. She has also received the Avis Morigawara Scholarship and JCCH Scholarship. Her plans after graduation are to work for a public organization in Japan for a few years before coming back to our Asian Studies program for graduate school.
“I would like to thank Dr. Anna Stirr for her great support for conducting my research project.”
Hometown: Davis, California
Area Focus: China
Favorite Classes & Professor: All classes taught by Professor Abinales.
Program Highlights: Got me where I needed to go and taught me the important things about Asian countries (especially China).
After graduation, Benjamin hopes to get a job that allows him to help others in a meaningful way.
“Thanks to everyone who made my college experience better!”
MA Asian Studies
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Area Focus: Inter-Asia, China & Philippines
Research Interests: Asian Culture & Language, Transnational Issues (Forced Migration, Human Trafficking, Terrorism, etc.), and Foreign Relations
Favorite Courses: I enjoyed all the courses I took as an undergrad and graduate student at UHM.
Program Highlights: Thanks to all my professors, advisors, and mentors for guiding and directing me towards my interests. I’ve grown coming out of the program, and I feel like I have more to offer to the world now that I have completed my program. For that, I appreciate the Asian studies program.
Miah was a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship recipient throughout her graduate program. She was also an Hawaii Asia-Pacific Affairs Leadership Program (APAL) scholar and participated in SEASSI 2020 with the University of Wisconsin. Miah was also a 2020 U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Finalist. She has presented her research at both East-West Center’s IGSC as well as the SPAS Conferences.
Hometowns: Honolulu, Hawaii and St. Paul, Minnesota
Area Focus: Korea
Research Interests: Religion and Authoritarianism in South Korea. The impacts of economic development on a nation’s people, especially those who are marginalized.
Favorite Classes & Professors: ASAN 750 with Dr. Stirr; her enthusiasm for learning and teaching made for a very helpful course. I enjoyed Dr. Clayton’s ethnic nationalism in Asia (ASAN 627) class. I am very indebted to my advisor Dr. Park for her counsel over my course of study here.
Program Highlights: I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, disciplines, and experiences that the professors and my fellow students brought to the classroom.
After graduation, Timothy will travel to visit family this summer. He is also planning to stay on Oahu and hopes to work for a non-governmental association that supports immigrants and refugees.
“Congratulations to my fellow graduates, especially Kimery, Grace and Young from the Korea cohort. Thank you to my family for their support these last three years.”
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Area Focus: Korea
Research Interests: Multiculturalism; Im/migration; Transnational Feminism; Race, Gender, and Class
Favorite Class & Professor: 600K with Dr. Young-A Park
Program Highlights: I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from many well-respected and renowned professors. Hence, what I enjoyed the most about the program is the outstanding support from professors who helped me explore diverse research topics that covered my academic interests.
Grace has presented her research at a number of conferences. Her paper “What is Pure Love? The Media Representation of Marriage Migrants in South Korea” received the best paper award in Korean Studies at the 2020 SPAS Conference. She has also presented on migration panels at both the Pacific Sociological Association and the East-West Center’s International Graduate Student Conference (IGSC). After graduating from UH, she plans to pursue a dual MA/Ph.D. program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Sociology at SUNY Albany.
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Area Focus: Korea
Research Interests: Gender and LGBT+ People in Korea and Japan, Imperialism and its Effect on Northeast Asia
Favorite Course: Research Seminar
Program Highlights: The interdisciplinary nature of the program
After graduation, Young is planning to pursue their Ph.D.
Hometown: Spotsylvania, Virginia
Area Focus: Korea
Research Interests: Hallyu, Korean Wave, K-pop, Social Media, Fandom
Favorite Professors: Dr. Park, Dr. Stirr, Dr. Clayton, and Dr. Govella
Program Highlights: The exposure to more than just my region of focus (Korea) – I was able to learn about other parts of Asia I never would have thought to before, which helped me understand Korea better! I also really appreciated the teaching/event planning experience I got from the Graduate Teaching Assistant position for the department.
Kimery has published her journal article entitled “Fans as Transcultural Gatekeepers: The Hierarchy of BTS’ Anglophone Reddit Fandom and the Digital East-West Media Flow.” New Media & Society”. She was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant for our department, an East-West Center Student Affiliate as well as an Interpreter Service Intern for the International Rescue Committee. Kimery has presented at the SPAS, East-West Center’s IGSC and BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conferences. After graduation, she hopes to apply for a job and eventually a PhD program, after some well-deserved rest first.
Hometown: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Area Focus: Japan
Research Interests: Identity Transformation, Co-Ethnic Return Migrants, and Minorities
Favorite Course: This question is too hard! I really enjoyed all the ASAN professors and their courses. If I really had to choose, I’d say ASAN 651 Marriage and Family in East Asia
Program Highlights: I enjoyed having the opportunity to learn from such experienced and enthusiastic professors (big thank you to my amazing plan B chair Dr. Govella), who not only supported me throughout this portion of my academic journey but inspired me to shoot beyond my own expectations. Meeting fellow graduate students from different walks of life, as well as broadening my knowledge of Japan and other nations is another part I loved about the program and overall graduate school experience. My advisor, Dr. Satsuma, was so helpful and I am so grateful for her! I will miss our talks about Japan, Okinawa, and her pets! Lastly, getting the chance to actually go out into the field and conduct interviews for one of my class papers was a highlight of mine, and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without Dr. Clayton’s support.
After graduation Amanda plans to sleep and complete her Netflix “to-watch” list. Her plan is to go to Japan soon after to teach English for a bit, before returning back home to Hawaii and start her career at UHM. She hopes to be either in academic advising or working in international programs.
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Area Focus: Inter-Asia, China & Southeast Asia
Research Interests: Human Rights in Asia, particularly marginalized and indigenous groups in China and Southeast Asia.
Favorite Courses: I really enjoyed all of the ASAN 600 level area focused courses. All of these courses tie together elements from more of the issue based classes and give great background on the region and beyond.
Program Highlights: I appreciate that the UH Manoa Asian Studies program and department is interdisciplinary, as there is always something new to learn and explore. This approach has been super helpful for an Inter-Asia focused student like myself, and it is always fun to have people from different departments to share their knowledge and connect on various aspects of the Asia-Pacific region.
During her time here in Hawaii, Natalie was an active member of the East-West Center Community as a Student Affiliate, Board Member for the East-West Center Participant’s Association (EWCPA), and Social Media Representative for the East-West Center International Women’s Group (IWG). She was also the Lead Intern for the Hawaii Language Roadmap Initiative. After graduation, Natalie plans to travel and eat yummy food when it is safe to do so. She also hopes to pursue a career in Foreign Service.
“Thank you so much for all of your support! I hope to stay in touch and connect again in the future!”
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Area Focus: China
Research Interests: The Belt and Road Initiative and the Uyghurs
Program Highlights: The breadth of topics and areas open for study and interpretation.
Joshua was an intern at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and the East-West Center’s Exchange program. He has also published an article entitled “The Economics of Repression: The Belt and Road Initiative, COVID-19, and the Repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang” in the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. Joshua will now train to be a U.S. Air Force Pilot.
Congratulations to our Asian Studies Spring 2021 Graduates!
We wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
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