Department of American Ethnic Studies

Honors Peer Educator Zoe Mertz felt more engaged than ever by this year’s online Global Challenges event, saying: "I really appreciated the range of knowledge and disciplinary experience the speakers brought to the conversation; and the topic felt immediate and relevant to students in all disciplines." A video recording of Drs. Bushnell, Spigner and Koutnik's Nov. 12 discussion on communicating crises across a divided public is available to view and to share.

This week at the UW, listen to a discussion on global challenges, join the Herny Art Museum for a roundtable discussion, and more.

“It’s important to take stock of what we’ve accomplished so we can remember that our collective activism, past and present, isn’t in vain,” says LaShawnda Pittman, an assistant professor of American Ethnic Studies.

The 2020 election is fast approaching, and with the protests against police brutality still continuing throughout the country, race is one of the hot issues for voters. It’s been talked about in all of the presidential and vice presidential debates; there have been Tweets and speeches made about the division of race and the current need for unity. In response to the importance of the issue of race, the history department organized a webinar with UW professors to discuss it.

Louie Tan Vital (MPA, 2019 | BA, Political Science and Comparative History of Ideas, 2016) discusses her own experience with generational differences in Asian American voting trends. 

The Southeast Asia Center will spearhead a new initiative to explore the effects of authoritarianism in Southeast Asia and on Southeast Asian American communities in the United States.

UW students, alumni, and faculty explain how COIVD-19 has disrupted Black life.

Daudi Abe, author of an upcoming book on Northwest rap, tells us what makes the local scene so special.

Tetsuden Kashima, professor of American Ethnic Studies, contributed to an educational game about the experience of being a Japanese American during WWII.

Rick Bonus, professor of American ethnic studies, broke ground on by becoming the first Filipino American to be appointed a UW department chair.

American Ethinc Studies ChairRick Bonus discusses how Pacific Islander students at the UW used the ocean as a metaphor to create community for themselves and change their university.

Jake Prendez (BA, American Ethnic Studies, 2000) discusses his experience as a Latinx artist and the creation of his cultural center.

Tracy Thai (BA, Engligh | American Ethnic Studies, 2019) interviews Jang Wok Huh, her former professor at the UW, and reflects upon identity and representation.

When Professor Shawn Wong went public with criticisms of publishing house Penguin, the literary community responded. American Ethnic Studies Professor Vince Schleitwiller weighs in.

UW sociologist LaShawnDa Pittman, weighs in on the multiple meanings of Juneteenth celebrations in Seattle.