Faculty and Staff

*Our faculty and staff are working both in-person and remote for the Spring 2026 semester. Asian & Asian American Studies classes are offered in a variety of formats including both online and face-to-face. Office hours may be conducted either virtually or in-person depending on the instructor’s schedule. Please confirm with your instructor to find out more information.

Tenured/Tenured-Track Faculty

Dr. Ruixi Ai	Graduate Advisor; Chinese Program Coordinator; and Professor of Chinese Studies Office: FO3-319 E-mail: ruixi.ai@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon – Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment Prof. Ai’s research interests include Chinese culture, linguistics, and pedagogy.
Dr. Kiyomi Chinen Kiyomi Chinen (center)	Japanese Program Coordinator & Associate Professor of Japanese Office: FO3-330 E-mail: k.chinen@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment Dr. Chinen’s research focuses on Japanese heritage language development.
Dr. Kyoungmi Ha	Korean Language & Culture Program Coordinator & Associate Professor of Asian Studies Office: FO3-321 E-mail: kyoungmi.ha@csulb.edu ~~Office Hours: Wed 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment~~ Dr. Ha is teaching abroad in South Korea this semester. Dr. Kyoungmi Ha’s research interests include Korean culture, discourse/conversation analysis, prosody, second language acquisition, and language pedagogy.
Dr. Barbara W. Kim	Department Chair; Undergraduate Advisor; and Professor of Asian American Studies & Asian Studies Office: FO3-338 Phone: (562) 985-7942 E-mail: barbara.kim@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays, 3:30 – 6:30 pm, Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, and by appointment Click here for the Zoom Link Dr. Barbara W. Kim’s research interests include Asian American identity and community formations, family, aging, and immigration. Dr. Kim is the co-author (with Grace J. Yoo) of Caring across Generations: The Linked Lives of Korean American Families (NYU Press, 2014), which was awarded the 2015 Asian American Book Award by the American Sociological Association’s Section of Asian and Asian America.
Dr. May Lin	Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-315 E-mail: May.Lin@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment Dr. May Lin’s research background is in social movements, organizing, and civic and political engagement of Asian Americans and other youths of color.
Dr. Sophea Seng	Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies & Asian Studies Office: FO3-332 E-mail: Sophea.Seng@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester Dr. Sophia Seng’s research involves Cambodian diaspora, South East Asian studies and critical refugee studies.
Dr. Nana Suzumura-Smith	Japanese Program Advisor & Assistant Professor of Japanese Office: FO3-334 E-mail: Nana.SuzumuraSmith@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon – Thurs 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester Dr. Suzumura’s research interests include Japanese language pedagogy, language testing, and assessment.
Dr. Ann Thuy-Ling Tran	Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies & Asian Studies Office: FO3-304 E-mail: ann.tran@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon – Thurs 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. *Instructor’s office hours are held both in-person this semester Dr. Ann Thuy-Ling Tran’s research engages the fields and areas of critical refugee studies, cultural studies, religious studies, sociolinguistics and global Việt Nam.
Dr. Haiping Wu	Chinese Program Coordinator & Associate Professor of Chinese Studies Office: FO3-336 E-mail: haiping.wu@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 10:00 – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester Prof. Wu’s research interests include Chinese culture, linguistics, and pedagogy.

Lecturer Faculty

Prof. Liya Ao	Lecturer of Chinese Studies Office: FO3-319 E-mail: liya.ao@csulb.edu Office Hours: Office Hours: Mon 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Prof. Chuc Bui	Lecturer of Vietnamese Language Office: LA5-269 E-mail: quyendi.bui@gmail.com Office Hours: Mon & Wed 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. (by appointment only) *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester Prof. Bui conducts research on Vietnamese language, linguistics, literature and culture. Publications include a set of introductory Vietnamese language textbooks published by Tuổi Hoa Publishing (Garden Grove, California) and books on advanced Vietnamese.
Prof. Thea Fojas de Borja	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-304 E-mail: thea.deborja@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.; Tues & Thurs 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm; Fri 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.& by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Dr. Masako Douglas Masako Douglas (right)	Professor Emerita of Japanese Program E-mail: masako.douglas@csulb.edu Dr. Douglas’ research concerns curriculum design and instruction for teaching Japanese as a heritage language (JHL) or foreign language (JFL); development of kanji ability and writing ability of JHL and JFL learners; effectiveness of Content-Based Language Learning and Project-Based Language Learning; JHL development. *Instructor is not teaching for the Fall 2025 semester
Dr. Phuoc Duong	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: Online E-mail: Phuoc.Duong@csulb.edu Office Hours: Zoom by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Dr. JC Fermin	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-317 E-mail: JC.Fermin@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Prof. Lawrence S. Hashima	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-317 E-mail: lhashima@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held both online & in-person this semester
Dr. Toni Hays	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-315 E-mail: toni.hays@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Dr. Jungsil Jin	Lecturer of Asian Studies Office: LA5-269 E-mail: jungsil.jin@csulb.edu Office Hours: Wed 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Dr. Hiroko Kataoka Hiroka Kataoka (left)	Professor Emerita of Japanese Office: FO3-330 E-mail: hiroko.kataoka@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester Dr. Kataoka’s research interests and specialties include: Curriculum and materials development; issues in teacher training and professional development; heritage learners of Japanese; and immersion programs and their assessment.
Prof. Kumiko Kitagawa	Lecturer of Japanese Office: LA5-269 E-mail: kumiko.kitagawa@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 11:10 – 11:40 p.m., 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.; Tues & Thurs 9:10 – 9:40 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Prof. Akane Lardy	Lecturer of Japanese Office: FO3-321 E-mail: Akane.Lardy@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues & Thurs 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & by appointment
Prof. Haely Ariel Lee	Lecturer of Korean Language Office: LA5-269 E-mail: haely.lee@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester Research focus on Asian immigrant communities-policy intervention/prevention of interpersonal violence.
Prof. Jinhee Lee	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: Online until 9/28, TBD E-mail: Jinhee.Lee@csulb.edu Office Hours: Wed 11:50 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Prof. Daniel Lu’u	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: Online E-mail: Daniel.Luu@csulb.edu Office Hours: Fri 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Prof. Josh Nettles	Lecturer of Asian Studies Office: N/A E-mail: joshua.nettles@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues, Thurs – Fri 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Prof. Joseph Nguyễn	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: Online Phone: N/A E-mail: joseph.nguyen@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Prof. Lisa Nguyen	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: FO3-332 Phone: N/A E-mail: lisa.nguyen@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Prof. Michelle Okawa	Lecturer of Asian American Studies *Instructor is not teaching for the Spring 2026 semester
Prof. Carol Park	Lecturer of Asian American Studies Office: Online Phone: N/A E-mail: Carol.Park@csulb.edu Office Hours: Fri 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Dr. JiHyun Park	Lecturer of Korean Language Office: LA5-269 Phone: (562) 985-4515 E-mail: jiparkusc@gmail.com Office Hours: Mon 10:00 – 11:00 am; Tues 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., 5:50 – 6:50 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Prof. Yuco Saigusa	Lecturer of Japanese Office: FO3-332 Phone: N/A E-mail: yuco.saigusa@csulb.edu Office Hours: Tues 10:00 – 10:50 a.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office held in-person this semester.
Prof. Darith Ung	Lecturer of Khmer (Cambodian) Language Office: Online Phone: (714) 651-0387 *during office hours only Email: darith.ung@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 4:15 – 4:45 p.m. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester
Dr. Peter Wong	Lecturer of Asian American Studies & Asian Studies Office: SPA-230 Phone: (310) 428-2885 during office hours only E-mail: peter.wong@csulb.edu ~~Office Hours: Fri 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. & by appointment~~ *Instructor is not teaching for AAAS this semester
Prof. Xiaowen Wu	Lecturer of Chinese Studies Office: LA5-269 Phone: (562) 985-4515 E-mail: xiaowen.wu@csulb.edu Office Hours: Wed 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.; Thurs 2:00 – 4:00 pm. & by appointment *Instructor’s office hours are held in-person this semester
Prof. Jeffrey Zeiser	Lecturer of Asian Studies Office: LA5-269 Phone: (562) 985-4515 E-mail: jeffrey.zeiser@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon & Wed 10:20 – 10:50 a.m., 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. (in person); 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (online – email for link)
Dr. Teresa Zimmerman-Liu	Lecturer of Asian Studies E-mail: teresa.zimmermanliu@csulb.edu Office Hours: Mon 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tues 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Wed 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. *Instructor’s office hours are held online this semester

Staff

Ami Nguyen

Administrative Support Coordinator
Office: FO3-340
Phone: (562) 985-4645
E-mail: ami.nguyen@csulb.edu
Department Office Hours:
Mon: online, please email
Tues: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wed – Thurs: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Emeriti Faculty

Dr. Masako Douglas Masako Douglas (right)	Professor of Japanese Program; Emerita Faculty E-mail: masako.douglas@csulb.edu Dr. Douglas’ research concerns curriculum design and instruction for teaching Japanese as a heritage language (JHL) or foreign language (JFL); development of kanji ability and writing ability of JHL and JFL learners; effectiveness of Content-Based Language Learning and Project-Based Language Learning; JHL development. Professor Masako Douglas is now retired, however, her email address remains active.
Dr. San Pao Li	Professor of Chinese Studies; Emeritus Faculty E-mail: san-pao.li@csulb.edu \| Website: San Pao Li Prof. Li’s research interests include promoting the use of technology to enhance the overall learning experience. Professor San Pao Li is now retired, however, his email address remains active.
Dr. Linda Maram	Professor of Asian American Studies; Emerita Faculty E-mail: linda.maram@csulb.edu Dr. España-Maram earned her Ph.D. in History from UCLA and her scholarship focuses on Filipino/a Americans and cultural productions. Her book, Creating Masculinity in Los Angeles’ Little Manila: Working-Class Filipinos and Popular Culture, was awarded the best book in History by the Association for Asian American Studies.
Dr. Dean S. Toji	Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies; Emeritus Faculty E-mail: dean.toji@csulb.edu Prof. Toji’s research interests include community organization and environmental justice. Professor Dean Toji is now retired, however, his email address remains active.
Dr. Teri Yamada	Professor of Asian Studies; Emerita Faculty E-mail: teri.yamada@csulb.edu Dr. Yamada conducts research on Asian foodways and food sustainability in Asia with a focus on Cambodia; development and urban planning in Southeast Asia with a focus on Cambodia. She is a publisher and translator of new Cambodian literature post 1993 UNTAC elections. Professor Teri Yamada is now retired, however, her email address remains active.

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Tenured/Tenured-Track Faculty

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