Alumni Stories

Our alumni are involved in a variety of fields, including industry and academia. Hear about their experiences both as students in the department and their life post-graduation.

The Chinese Flagship Program: Creating Global Citizens

The Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies has been awarded the renewal of the Chinese Flagship Grant. This federal grant funds the Chinese Flagship Program, which…

Medical Hmong: Connecting Communities through Language and Medicine

This May 2020, the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies will be launching a 1-credit online course taught by Bee Vang-Moua that aims to help medical professionals…

View of downtown Minneapolis from campus

Spring 2019 Newsletter from Asian & Middle Eastern Studies

Spring 2019 updates from Asian & Middle Eastern Studies featuring a chair letter and stories about students, faculty, and alumni.

AMES Summer Program 2021

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Summer Program 2020

Shir Alon poses for a portrait outdoors.

A Common Thread: Using Literature to Connect Larger Ideas

Oil, feminism, minorities, and genies. All of these are the focus of classes taught by new Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Shir Alon. Her classes are rooted in her…

Chinese, English Language Students Learn from Each Other in U of M Program

U of M Program matches international students learning English with local high school students who have gone through Chinese immersion programs.

Faculty Research Highlights: Baryon Tensor Posadas

This short video highlights Baryon Tensor Posadas' research.

Paul Rouzer, the first Mary Griggs Burke Endowed Chair in Asian Studies, Shares his Vision

The Mary Griggs Burke Endowed Chair in Asian Studies was created to provide remarkable scholars the resources to pursue advanced research in Japan studies. Professor Paul…

Martin Miller with his fellow interns during his summer at Pearl Studio in Shanghai, China.

Breaking into the Entertainment Industry through Chinese Flagship

The Chinese Flagship program gave recent graduate Martin Miller an unexpected start into his career. During his time abroad, he interned at the film production company, Pearl…

Students at a Shinto shrine called Kasuga Taisha in Nara, Japan

The Power of Performing Arts in Japan

This global seminar provided students with a unique opportunity to study Japanese performing arts while attending live performances. 25 students visited four cities and…

Professor Ning Ma poses for a picture on campus

Professor Ning Ma Recipient of the 2019-2020 Talle Faculty Research Award

Professor Ma recognized for her project "The Ways of the Monkey King: Chinese Culture and Globalization in Deep Time"

Summer Program - Registration Opens March 7, 2019

Asian Languages and Literatures Summer courses registration opens March 7, 2019.

Exploring Hmong Culture in China

ALL’s Hmong program piloted the first-ever language and culture immersion learning abroad trip in summer 2018. With a focus on community and connection, 14 students discovered…

Professor Nida Sajid’s Interdisciplinary Approach to South Asian Studies

“I was immediately drawn to the [ALL] department because of the vibrant, dynamic team of scholars,” shares Nida Sajid. With her expertise in the literary and cultural history…

Reimagining a Master’s Degree: ALL’s New MA Program

A new master’s program featuring an integrated BA and MA will allow students to simultaneously earn their degree and enter the workforce early and, in doing so, bridges the…

Jonathan Veracka, Amanda Grant, and Fatima Walji leaning up against a wall decorated with film posters from ALL's studies

On Purpose: Portrait of Asian Languages & Literatures

The Department of Asian Languages and Literatures is committed to the interdisciplinary study of three culturally rich areas of the world: East Asia, South Asia, and the…

Buddhist guardian figure from the Mary Griggs Burke Collection.

The Art of Giving: ALL Receives $3 Million from the Mary Livingston Griggs and Mary Griggs Burke Foundation

Prominent art collector Mary Griggs Burke amassed an extraordinary collection of Japanese art, which is now on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and the…

Laughing and Learning: Studying Asian Comedy Film

For some, comedy film is more than just something to watch with friends on a Friday night. Soo Hyun Lee and Hui Liu are PhD candidates in the Asian Literatures, Cultures, and…

Drumming to Find a Voice

Japanese Taiko Drumming combines martial arts, dance, and percussion. However, it became much more than that for Roy and PJ Hirabayashi. As Japanese Americans and baby boomers…