In what ways do your research interests connect to the theme “Collisions Across Color Lines?”
My praxis as an artist-educator draws directly from my personal experiences with immigration and in direct service with migrant and refugee families. Throughout my academic journey, my research has expanded and collided between art, psychology, and education. My research interest centers on supporting students from diverse backgrounds through community-based art programs. Since the Interseminars theme of Collisions Across Color Lines aims to advance social justice, including racial, economic, and gender justice, by developing critical views on current structures and ideologies, my expertise in promoting the mental health of migrant students through community-based art programs aligns closely with its objectives. As an Interseminars fellow, I meet and collaborate with other fellows and professors in various humanities fields. This opportunity allows me to expand the scope of my experience and research path and to engage in investigating racial and social issues to conduct research beyond disciplinary boundaries.
How has the Interseminars initiative impacted the way you approach your research?
After joining Interseminars, I have gained valuable insights into different methodologies and approaches from scholars from various backgrounds and disciplines. For example, to better understand the challenges faced by the African diaspora, we explored how the colonial discourses in the past continue to impact their lives today. These discussions included perspectives from anthropology, political science, dance, and literature studies. These collaborative and multidisciplinary conversations have not only deepened my knowledge but also enriched my research on migrant students. They have also inspired me to explore the intersection of the arts, humanities, and social change, as well as to integrate other modalities into my practices.
Can you describe a group interaction or activity from Interseminars that has been particularly memorable?
One interesting aspect of Interseminars for me, both as a fellow and an educator, is that this course does not adhere to traditional methods of learning and teaching. Instead, it strives to create innovative and engaging experiences through the collaboration of nine fellows and three professors from diverse disciplines. This may sound exciting and enjoyable, but we, as a collective, confronted multiple challenges regarding logistics, workload, different learning styles, and goals. However, through our collective efforts to make the Interseminars experience meaningful and enriching for every participant, we have created a safe space by openly discussing our concerns and challenges, and by being flexible and respectful towards each other. These experiences of co-constructing the course and engaging in interaction where fellows and professors share their thoughts and contribute to their knowledge have taught me how to encourage, engage, and empower my students through my teaching. They have also demonstrated how to collide across different backgrounds, opinions, and thoughts through open discussion and respectful interaction. I believe such experiences make this Interseminars more memorable and valuable for me.
How will you bring interdisciplinary collaboration into the next phase of your graduate school experience?
I am currently a third year PhD student in art education. My next phase of graduate school experiences will be conducting research and continuing to write my dissertation. My research utilizes art therapy approaches, incorporating aspects of Social Emotional Learning, to improve the mental health of East Asian international students studying in the U.S. Drawing upon my creative and artistic insights, my research is rooted in my personal experience and aims to expand further by considering intersectionality and interdisciplinarity. For my future research, I aspire to continue my interdisciplinary research alongside other scholars who advocate for marginalized populations both in the U.S. and globally. I think working within a multidisciplinary cohort to investigate racial and social issues and conduct research beyond disciplinary boundaries is invaluable. This collaborative approach will help me generate more critical knowledge, dismantle societal barriers and oppression, build connections to address racial and social issues, and conduct research beyond disciplinary boundaries.