WAA + AMST

Another WAA update! Today (last Wednesday, actually) was the deadline for all our articles so you can expect at least one more coming up, but this particular post is about our recent work with the American Studies program and a new tenure track hire.

Since 2004, WAA has been working closely with the American Studies Program at Wellesley to see a stronger Asian American representation in their curriculum. Although our ultimate goal is to establish an Asian American Studies major, we’re working with what we have here, so for the time being, the American Studies program is the best starting point since the study of Asians in America falls naturally into that field. However, as is, Wellesley’s American Studies program is in need of an major upgrade (like Windows 95 to Windows XP major). The program is underdeveloped, unfocused, Anglo-centric, and has no theoretical core—problems that need to be remedied before any kind of Asian American foundation can be properly established.

By the end 2004-2005 school year (with super badass coordinator May Yang ’05 at the helm) WAA convinced the American Studies faculty and the Wellesley administration to invite a visiting committee of faculty from outside American Studies programs to evaluate Wellesley’s for weaknesses and to provide recommendations for improvements. When the committee finally came in Spring 2006, WAA and Mezcla gave a joint presentation of our goals and hopes for the American Studies program. At the end of the day, we were able to squeeze out a tenure track hire directly into American Studies, a big step for an interdisciplinary program that is currently comprised entirely of professors from other departments.

Although the position itself was open to any specialization within the field of American Studies, our main criteria was that the hire be someone who believes strongly in the need to incorporate a multicultural component into the curriculum. During the application process last semester, we e-mailed Asian American Studies and American Studies listserves from across the nation asking for potential applicants who would be able to represent.

Over 100 candidates applied for the position, and when we came back from Wintersession, we were given the chance to interview each of the top five candidates—the only student organization to do so. After speaking individually with each candidate and sitting through each of their sample lectures, we presented a letter of recommendation to the American Studies faculty and the Adele Wolfson, Associate Dean of the College.

We’re still waiting to hear back from the committee as to which candidate was finally chosen, but we have it on good authority that it’ll be soon, so stay tuned!