I study how archives—as academic space and literary aesthetic—challenge institutional structures in diasporic Asian literature. My research examines twentieth and twenty-first century Anglophone novels and their manuscripts, drawing on methodologies from archive studies, novel studies, and narrative theory. I received my PhD in English Literature from the University of Iowa, where I also earned certificates from the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) as well as the Center for the Book. My current book project, Critical Intimacy: Archive Aesthetics in Diasporic Asian Novels, focuses on novels which mimic the multi-genre and multi-perspective characteristics of archives. Analyzing the archive practices necessary to produce and parse these novels, I consider how these novels position fiction in relationship to narration, in particular the political work propelled by narrative construction and circulation.

My pedagogical philosophy and teaching practice aim to build flexible communities that expand beyond the classroom. As a Taiwanese scholar, I tutored students in English as Second Language (ESL) for years, continually engaging with unfamiliar texts, reflecting on my engagement, then explaining my process to different communities. These tutoring experiences are foundational to my current classrooms, where I familiarize my students with analysis, recognize and integrate different learning styles into student-centered classrooms, and collaborate with community partners in lesson-planning.

Iowa City’s arts and academic communities have been a continual source of support and inspiration in my research and teaching. Our writers are a staple in my syllabi and frequent visitors to my classroom, including my current course, “Practicing Reading in the Midwest.” I taught a Service Learning course for three years, where my students regularly commuted to read with fourth and fifth graders. This relationship with local communities is what I continue to seek out and develop as an international scholar.