Image: One of my greatest joys is spending time with my two children. My son Lucas, born May 2014 while I was completing my Ph.D. at Ohio State, and my daughter April, born April 2017 during my Mellon Postdoc at the College of Wooster, have transformed my life, filling it with energy, passion, and curiosity. We love exploring new places and meeting new people, whether visiting a zoo or taking family vacations. Their wonder reminds me to stay curious in life and work. Moving to the U.S. has been a rewarding journey, allowing me to connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. However, I am mindful of the racism in society and worry about my children's safety as Chinese Americans. My forthcoming book, Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chinese and Chinese American Women: Racisms, Feminisms, and Foodways (Indiana University Press, August 2025), examines how COVID-19-related racism echoes historical prejudices against the Chinese diaspora. I explore how Chinese and Chinese American women respond to these challenges through personal narratives, religion, foodways, and community building. In addition to my book, my article "Defining Global Asian Folklore Studies" will be published in the Journal of Folklore Research in 2024. I am also co-editing special issues for Narrative Culture and Western Folklore, and have contributed to the "AAPI Voices and Stories" project funded by the Mellon Foundation. I serve as the Senior Convener of the Transnational Asia/Pacific Section of the American Folklore Society (2024-2025) and am on the Executive Board (2024-2026). At UGA, I look forward to fostering a diverse, inclusive environment and mentoring students while contributing to interdisciplinary discussions in our department, within the college, and throughout the world. Type of News/Audience: Faculty
