Sucheng Chan

Although she completed degrees in economics, Asian studies, and political science, it was only when Dr. Sucheng Chan began her first teaching job did she realize that many issues and questions involving Asian studies could only be answered by studying history. She immediately trained herself to become a historian, reading all the major history journals for the past decade. In time, she has become one of the most influential historians and scholars in the field of Asian American studies. She also played an integral part of the movement creating ethnic studies as a legitimate field of university study.

A prolific author and historian, Dr. Chan has written or edited over 17 books and is the founding editor of the 21-volume Asian American History and Culture Series, investigating the history of different groups of Asian Americans in the U.S. including Chinese, Koreans, Hmong, Cambodians, Laotians, and the Vietnamese. Dr. Chan has made an immeasurable impact on the historiography of Asian Americans and illuminated the understanding of the history of many ethnic groups. Chan has served as on the board of editors of several history publications and as a consultant on numerous films, oral history, and museum projects about Asian American communities.