About Us

Awards Won by AAS Faculty

Book Awards
2010.  Book Award in Cultural Studies from the Association for Asian American Studies (for Digitizing Race: Visual Cultures of the Internet by Lisa Nakamura

2008. Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award from the Racial and Ethnic Minorities Section, American Sociological Association

2007.  Research Award for Outstanding Booklength Study in Theatre Practice and Pedagogy from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (for A History of Asian American Theatre by Esther Kim Lee)

2005. Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award (for Sexual Naturalization by Susan Koshy)

2005. Honorable Mention, Association for Asian American Studies Book Award for Cultural Studies (for Global Divas: Filipino Gay Men in the Diaspora by Martin Manalansan)

2004. Book of the Year Award, Critical and Cultural Studies Division of the National Communication Association (for Shifting Borders by Kent A. Ono)

2003.  Ruth Benedict Award from the Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists (for Global Divas: Filipino Gay Men in the Diaspora by Martin Manalansan)

2000. Cultural Studies book award from the Asian American Studies Association (for Cultural Compass: Ethnographic Explorations of Asian America by Martin Manalansan)

Research Awards
2008. Charles H. Woolbert Research Award (Kent A. Ono)

Community Awards
2005.  Milestone Award, Asian American Institute, Chicago (Kent A. Ono, accepted as Director on behalf of the Illinois Asian American Studies Program)

History

The history of Asian American student organizations at the University of Illinois is diverse. Several originated as clubs for Asian international students (i.e., the Indian Students Association and the Philippine Students Association) and later evolved into organizations for Asian American students, whereas several others were conceived primarily for Asian American students (e.g., the Asian American Association and the Taiwanese American Students Club). Regardless of the origins of these student groups, it was the collaborative efforts of the various Asian American student organizations and the faculty, staff, and administration that resulted in the formation of the program in Asian American studies.

In Fall 1997, the Asian American Studies Committee was organized, with the charge to build an academic program in Asian American studies. George Yu became AAS's first director and served a five-year term. This academic program was created in Fall 2000, with six faculty lines filled. In Fall 2002, the minor in AAS became available, and Kent Ono was hired as director of the program.

Mission

AAS at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to expanding the traditions of knowledge within academia to address Asian American epistemologies, activities, and experiences. The department also seeks to render scholarly intellectual efforts integral to those of local, regional, national, and international Asian American communities. Faculty, staff, and students associated with the department are expected to contribute to this mission not only through teaching, research, and service activities, locally and nationally, but also through active participation in social, intellectual, and political endeavors.

Faculty, staff, and students are working collaboratively to: