Dear American Studies Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, and Supporters:

Many thanks for your support as we close out the 2022-2023 Academic Year.

It has been an exciting and productive first year as the chair of the American Studies department. Please read on for some Department highlights from this past year.

Thank you all for your support of the department and a big congratulations to all of our American Studies, majors and minors, Public Humanities minors, and Asian American Studies minors who are graduating this year.

If you need us, during the summer, just drop me an email at tbhalla@umbc.edu or email our amazing program management specialist, Morgan Dowty at morgando@umbc.edu. 

I wish you all a restful and peaceful summer,

Dr. Tamara Bhalla

American Studies 2022-2023 Department Highlights

• At Undergraduate Research and Achievement Day 2023, we had some excellent student presentations. Megumi Fukuzawa, Asian American Studies minor, presented a "From Resentment to Reconciliation: A Study of Changes in the Asian American Mother-Daughter Trope." Kendall Howell presented "Watch Me Work: Baltimore Barbershops, Hair Salons, Stories and More." Evelyn Yuen, Public Humanities minor, presented "Mapping 100+ Years of Baltimore's Asian Restaurant History."

• In February 2023, Sarah Fouts signed an advanced contract with UNC Press for her manuscript entitled Right to Remain: Street Food Vendors and Day Laborers in Post-Katrina New Orleans. Fouts is also wrapping up a year-long Whiting Fellowship for Public Engagement in May 2023 where she will complete the collaborative New Orleans-based, "Project Neutral Grounds: At the Intersection of People, Street Food, and the Hustle." 

• In July 2023, Sarah Fouts and Nicole King will launch the Baltimore Field School 2.0 which is focused on developing community-engaged teaching and research projects that move away from extractive practices. Dr. Mike Casiano is a fellow in the field school.

• On April 12, 2023, the department sponsored a book workshop for Dr. Mike Casiano's in-progress manuscript, entitled Let us Alone: Race and Police Power in Baltimore, 1865-1929. 

• For a few recent publications from our faculty, check out the Journal of Asian American Studies, where Dr. Tamara Bhalla co-authored "The Privilege of South Asian American Studies" and "'Building Together' in Baltimore? Corporate Megadevelopment and Coalitions for Community Power" in Urban Affairs Review co-authored by Dr. Nicole King.