Asian Studies, UT Austin

Asian Studies Faculty celebrating the UT 2026 Graduation Ceremony @ DKR Stadium (Profs Robert Oppenheim, Yi Lu, Alice McCoy-Bae, Darsana Manayathu-Sasi, Manasicha Akepiyapornchai and RTF's Shani Kumar. Congratulations to all the recent UT graduating students!!

Faustino Rodriguez has received Honorable Mention recognition for the Liberal Arts Honors Outstanding Thesis Award. His thesis, "Exporting People, Building the Nation: Human Commodification and South Korea’s Postwar Growth," examines Korea's remarkable economic, political, and cultural rise in the years following the Korean War. By delving into the strategic commodification of soldiers, adoptees, and K-pop stars, Faustino shows that—and more importantly how—successive South Korean governments made effective use of the actual bodies of its citizens as one of its main exports. Going beyond the mere numbers of economic impact, Faustino delves into the lives and self-expression of Koreans who experienced the commodification of their bodies in this period. Please join us in congratulating Faustino on his outstanding work.

Asian Studies graduating seniors, family, and friends, please come join us in the conference room to celebrate your achievement!

Korean Film Screening
We’re delighted to share that the Korean Film Screening Event Series will return in Spring 2026! Each screening will begin with light refreshments, and a brief introduction exploring the film’s historical and cultural background, setting the stage for an engaging viewing experience. After the film, we invite you to stay for lively and thoughtful discussions. This special series is proudly presented by the Korean Program in Asian Studies, and we look forward to welcoming you.

If you have any questions or film suggestions, please feel free to reach out to Alice McCoy-Bae at [email protected].

When: 5-8PM

Where: W.C.H. 4.118, Meyerson Conference Room

4/24 (Friday): The Wailing (2016)directed by Na Hong-Jin

Wanting to learn Sanskrit, look no further!

🎙️ Excited to share the launch of Watch Next, a new film podcast hosted by Dr. Z. Rubi Sanchez Lozoya, featuring conversations with guest experts on curated films.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube Music | Follow along for more on Instagram

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, graduating with Japanese Language Honors

We are proud to congratulate our students who have been recognized by the Japanese National Honor Society (JNHS) for their outstanding achievement of Japanese language studies. This honor reflects their dedication to academic excellence and commitment to the study of Japanese language and culture.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 graduating with Japanese Language Honors!

Congratulations to the Class of 2026, graduating with Chinese Language Honors
Ben Castro
Seth Goodwin
Kaunli Hehr
Lillian Hurter
Tyler Lutz
Aruna Muthupillai
Logan Royer
Ruth Thomas

It is with great joy that I share the wonderful news that Shahnaz Hassan has been selected as the faculty recipient of our 2026 Teaching Excellence Award in World Languages (formerly the Foreign Language Teaching Excellence Award).

Since 2002, Shahnaz has been a cherished and indispensable member of both the Department of Asian Studies and the South Asia Institute. Her inspired and deeply thoughtful Urdu pedagogy—together with her extraordinary commitment to outreach and service—has profoundly shaped generations of students and has been central to the success of our Institute.

Please join me in offering heartfelt congratulations to Shahnaz on this richly deserved honor.



Syed Akbar Hyder
Director, South Asia Institute
Associate Professor of Asian Studies & Islamic Studies
The University of Texas at Austin

Students,

Please join us for our upcoming talk with guest speaker, Christopher Fan.

Taiwan, Sovereignty, and Semiconductors in the Films of Edward Yang

Date: Thursday April 9, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: RLP 1.302D

This talk examines the linked mythologies of Taiwan's two signature global achievements: the Taiwan New Cinema (TNC) and the semiconductor industry.

Sponsored by:
CTS; Co-sponsored by CEAS

See you there!

Students,

Get ahead and take summer classes!

Registration for continuing and readmitted students begins on Monday, April 6.