Asian American Studies Comes to New York

Meet the directors and faculty members of this flourishing and vital program.

Monday, February 12, 2024

By Susan Ahlborn


Left: David Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor of English and Faculty Director of ASAM; Right: Fariha Khan, G’01, GR’08, Co-Director of ASAM



Penn Arts & Sciences and the University of Pennsylvania Asian Alumni Network (UPAAN) are excited to present Asian American Studies Now, an opportunity to meet the Program’s codirectors and faculty and hear how it continues to expand and excel at a crucial time. The event will take place Wednesday, March 13, from 6–8 p.m. at the Penn Club of New York, 30 W 44th Street.

“We are thrilled to share with the Penn community why Asian American studies is more urgent than ever, in this first advancement event featuring the Program in New York City,” says David L. Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor of English and faculty director of the Asian American Studies Program (ASAM). “Since celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2022, ASAM has doubled its faculty, multiplied its course offerings, and inaugurated the first named postdoctoral fellowship in Asian American studies in the Ivy League. We are looking forward to building on this momentum with our steadfast supporters.” 

Eng will be joined by ASAM codirector Fariha Khan, G’01, GR’08, and several ASAM faculty to give a short update, followed by plenty of time to talk and network with them and fellow alumni while enjoying refreshments at the Penn Club of New York.

ASAM was established in 1996 thanks to collective action by students, faculty, and alumni, making Penn one of a handful of Ivy League institutions with a formal program and course of study in this dynamic and growing field. “There is a movement going on across the Ivy League right now to establish Asian American studies, and Penn is leading the way with faculty recruitment, programming, fundraising, and leadership,” says Eng.  

Asian American Studies Now is cohosted by an alumni committee, the Asian American Studies program, Penn Spectrum, and the Arts & Sciences Ambassador Council.

To learn more and register, click here.

To read more about the Asian American Studies Program, click here.