Wilkinson College welcomes new Asian American Studies minor professor Vivian Yan-Gonzalez
Dr. Vivian Yan-Gonzalez, assistant professor for the Asian American Studies minor, is already making notable contributions to Chapman University through her passion for her work. Photo by EMI THOMAS, Staff Photographer
One of the new professors for Chapman’s Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is Vivian Yan-Gonzalez, an assistant professor for Chapman’s Asian American Studies minor.
Yan-Gonzalez, a California native, studied at the University of Southern California as an undergraduate before attending Stanford University for her doctoral degree in history. Prior to coming to Chapman, she also spent a year as a postdoctoral research associate at the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of Illinois.
“It’s exciting that Chapman University is developing ethnic studies courses and programs, particularly with its location in the heart of Orange County where ethnic and racial minorities and immigrants are rapidly changing the community,” Yan-Gonzalez said. “And, I know that students have been deeply involved in pushing for the creation of these programs for a very long time.”
“It’s exciting that Chapman University is developing ethnic studies courses and programs, particularly with its location in the heart of Orange County where ethnic and racial minorities and immigrants are rapidly changing the community. And, I know that students have been deeply involved in pushing for the creation of these programs for a very long time.”
Yan-Gonzalez says that she was drawn in by the opportunity to help contribute to the Asian American Studies minor. Her research thus far has focused largely on 20th century politics of Chinese and Japanese American conservatives and Republicans in California, and she believes Orange County is a vibrant spot for Asian American politics in particular.
“It’s surprising to look back on this now, but when I grew up in Orange County in the 2000s, we often felt embarrassed about our ethnicity and tried to avoid being seen as ‘too Asian,’” Yan-Gonzalez said. “For instance, I had that experience — a sort of classic moment many Asian Americans have had as well — of opening my lunchbox at school and some other kid saying, ‘Ew, what is that?’ So, when I went to college, I had internalized that attitude, and I had no particular interest in Asian American studies.”
“It’s surprising to look back on this now, but when I grew up in Orange County in the 2000s, we often felt embarrassed about our ethnicity and tried to avoid being seen as ‘too Asian. For instance, I had that experience — a sort of classic moment many Asian Americans have had as well — of opening my lunchbox at school and some other kid saying, ‘Ew, what is that?’ So, when I went to college, I had internalized that attitude, and I had no particular interest in Asian American studies.”
Yan-Gonzalez relates that her first real experience with Asian American studies would be accidental, taking a class on Edward Said’s famous theory on Orientalism, something she related to with regard to her experiences as an Asian American.
“As I dove deeper into Asian American studies, I came to recognize that the field is more than trying to understand our identity or heritage,” Yan-Gonzalez said. “It’s about using Asian American histories, stories and experiences as a lens to understand the power relations that span the U.S. and the world, so that we can gain a clearer understanding of how all of us are shaped by the dynamics of race and power.”
Stephanie Takaragawa, the program director of the Asian American Studies minor and an associate dean at Wilkinson College, had nothing but praise and recommendation for any students interested in getting involved in the minor through Yan-Gonzalez’s courses.
“Dr. Yan-Gonzalez brings a unique historical and political science perspective to Asian American studies through her work on politicians, and her digital humanities approach,” Takaragawa said. “Her Asian American media class is quite popular, and students are introduced to issues of Asian American representation and self-representation through multimodal forms.”
“Dr. Yan-Gonzalez brings a unique historical and political science perspective to Asian American studies through her work on politicians, and her digital humanities approach. Her Asian American media class is quite popular, and students are introduced to issues of Asian American representation and self-representation through multimodal forms.”
Takaragawa relayed that Yan-Gonzalez is one of the organizers behind the “Meet and Eat” gatherings that take place at noon every other Wednesday at the Cross Cultural Center.
These events give students the opportunity to learn more about the Asian American Studies minor, as well as the chance to meet others who might be interested in the minor and have fun through making crafts, playing games and conversing over free snacks and drinks.
“I think Professor Yan-Gonzalez is amazing because she challenges the students in her class with very difficult and thought-provoking discussion questions that actually trigger us to think and break down media articles critically,” said Jerry Zou, a senior theater performance major and a current student in Yan-Gonzalez’s Asian American Media course. “She has such a way of generating discussion questions on the spot that really speaks to her credibility as a professor who advocates for students’ development of critical thinking and discussion skills.”
Zou was drawn to the minor more or less out of coincidence, trying to find a minor that seemed interesting out of the many offered by Chapman. Zou has no regret for this decision and is thankful for being able to participate in what he describes as an “elevation in ethnic studies at Chapman.”
“I think one of the greatest attributes Professor Yan-Gonzalez provides to the minor is challenging these first-year students, who just moved on from high school, to elevate their critical thinking abilities and confidence to speak up in class discussions,” Zou said. “Therefore, not only are these first-year Asian American students getting their critical thinking abilities challenged, but (they are) also being challenged to think critically about their Asian American identity, which they most likely have not experienced during high school.”
“I think one of the greatest attributes Professor Yan-Gonzalez provides to the minor is challenging these first-year students, who just moved on from high school, to elevate their critical thinking abilities and confidence to speak up in class discussions. Therefore, not only are these first-year Asian American students getting their critical thinking abilities challenged, but (they are) also being challenged to think critically about their Asian American identity, which they most likely have not experienced during high school.”