We invite abstracts for chapter-length essays that will contribute to a new anthology in South Asian American studies, tentatively titled, "Power and Privilege in South Asian American Studies." The anthology will focus on issues of privilege and power in South Asian American representation, community, and identity. Scholars in South Asian American Studies in particular have noted that systems of class and racial capitalism mediate racialization processes, and that South Asian Americans have accrued disproportionate access and control over political, social and economic capital. This privileged status remains understudied. This volume will examine power and privilege as both a defining and under-examined feature of South Asian American identity and community formation. As a starting point, we ask: What does South Asian American studies mean now, and what can or should it evolve into? The anthology will begin by discussing the boundaries and analytical frameworks that define the field of South Asian American studies now, and how they could and should evolve. 

Embrace complexity, nurture care, lead with courage

The Global Asias Initiative at UMBC is now offering the third round of its Course Expansion Grants for coursework in Fall 2025. These grants are offered once per semester (till Spring 2026) for up to $2,000 to fund curricular innovations especially around the incorporation of a public humanities or community-engaged component into existing courses that serve the Asian Studies program, the Asian American studies minor and fit within the field of Global Asias. The course expansion grants are intended to support the development of Global Asias courses that centralize diasporic, transnational, and ethnic studies approaches.

The courses may be co-taught by faculty and community collaborators and include community-based research projects, the integration of digital tools, or a key activity to make the course more public facing. The expenses may include honoraria for speakers, supplies, books, and technology tools. We will provide funding for one course per semester starting in Fall 2024 and continuing through Spring 2026. Funds must be spent during the semester the course is taught; however, some funding may be used for course preparation and conceptualization on a case by case basis, if requested.

We are accepting applications for Fall 2025. The application is due April 1, 2025.

Before submission, applicants should discuss their proposed course expansion grant with Tamara Bhalla (tbhalla@umbc.edu), Co-PI and Meredith Oyen (oyen@umbc.edu), Key Faculty Leader of the Global Asias Mellon Initiative.

To apply please submit a brief description (no more than 500 words) describing the proposed course expansion and explaining how the course expansion fits within the field of Global Asias. Please also submit a proposed budget.

Past Course Expansion Grants have supported:

Fall 2024: To supplement the course, AMST375 - Studies in Asian American Culture, students and faculty took a field trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where they had a guided tour by Theo Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American History. They also visited the exhibit Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond sponsored by the Smithsonian Asia Pacific Center.

Spring 2025: In conjunction with the course MLL 315, Images of Society in Contemporary Korean Film, Dr. Kyung-Eun Yoon is hosting a screening of CHOSEN on March 13, 2025. The film is a documentary by Joseph Juhn, that sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of five Korean Americans who ran for US Congress in 2020.