Background
I did not know what a 1.5 generation was until a professor in my PhD program boldly stated that I was a 1.5er. That conversation changed my life, and I wrote my first book on The 1.5 Generation: Becoming Korean American in Hawaiʻi. As an immigrant and first-generation college student, I have always been curious about the role of family, community, and place on one's identity. My work is grounded in an anti-racist and anti-oppression framework that examines how socio-cultural factors shape us. I've lived in Seoul, Korea, Guam, San Francisco, Hawaiʻi, and Southern California and felt a sense of community at UH Mānoa. I love to travel, cherish informal conversations, and enjoy cuisines from around the world. Preserving memories of our elders to fill in the gaps in history is something I am honored to do. I find joy in mentoring and supporting others and feel that my purpose is to elevate the voices of those who want to be seen and heard.
Education
- PhD, Sociology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 1998
Specializations
Asian Diaspora, Oral History, and Social Justice.
Research
My research centers around the intersectionality of Ethnic identity, gender sexuality, class, community formation, family, generations, and social justice. I have written extensively on Asian American communities and identities, anti-racist and anti-oppression, and I'm finishing up a manuscript on Asian American and Latino millennials and GenZ. I am also interested in oceanic ethnic studies and the Asian diaspora. My research involves mixed methodologies; however, I have centered oral histories as a primary source of collecting interviews in my work.
Community Engagement
As I am new to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, I look forward to opportunities to engage with ACCESS, student organizations, international students, and the students and community members who contribute to our oral history projects.