USC East Asian Studies Center

USC East Asian Studies Center The East Asian Studies Center provides leadership, coordination and support for East Asian studies at the University of Southern California.

EASC is an internationally recognized center at the University of Southern California that provides dedicated leadership, coordination and support for interdisciplinary education, research activity, and community outreach concerning East Asia.

The 2026 Global East Asia Tokyo scholars are ready for Japan! Bon voyage!
05/20/2026

The 2026 Global East Asia Tokyo scholars are ready for Japan! Bon voyage!

Today, we hosted our Spring 2026 Grad Student Connect, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible turnout and a...
05/16/2026

Today, we hosted our Spring 2026 Grad Student Connect, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible turnout and amazing energy of our vibrant and diverse graduate student community! We enjoyed delicious Korean rice bowls while we shared laughter and stories.
With 50+ graduate students joining us from across USC—including including Anthropology, Computer Science, Psychology, East Asian Area Studies, East Asian Languages and Cultures, History, Linguistics, Political Science and International Relations in Dornsife, Annenberg Communications, Cinema and Media Studies and Art History— the myriad of people and programs made for interesting conversation and one of our most interdisciplinary gatherings yet!
Thank you to everyone who came to connect, share experiences, and support one another. EASC continues to be a meaningful space for building community, finding collaboration, and reflecting on the wide range of work happening across Asia–related fields.

EASC is excited to highlight Joshua Mallard, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife...
05/16/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Joshua Mallard, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife! After earning his undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies with a focus on Japanese language and literature, which stemmed from his love of Japanese pop media, continuing into the EAAS master’s program felt like a natural step.

His research examines the intersection of Japanese popular media, fan culture, and Black speculative thought. In his master’s thesis, Joshua looks at Black engagement with anime, manga, and gaming through the frameworks of Hiroki Azuma’s database model, Ōtsuka Eiji’s narrative consumption, and Afrofuturism.

For incoming students, Joshua’s advice is simple: come as you are. After graduation, Joshua plans to continue developing his research and stay involved with the Annenberg Transnational Fandom Group while exploring book publishing opportunities. He will also continue his full-time work in IT and expand his creative practice in producing and releasing music.

Congratulations Joshua! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Joshua’s full feature here: https://bit.ly/4tkGi2X

EASC is excited to highlight Zoe Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!Zoe ...
05/16/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Zoe Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!

Zoe assures incoming students that MA is a great period of time to explore any topics you’re interested in, which is not only helpful for those who wish to continue graduate studies, but those who wish to apply knowledge gained in school to non-academic professional practices. She advises everyone to be brave enough to speak up in class, that no answer is a bad answer, and to appreciate the togetherness of your community. Everyone must work together to push the boundaries of knowledge. More practically, she suggests everyone purchase an air purifier upon moving to Los Angeles- the dust, pollen, and air quality can really get to you! Enjoy your sunny days in LA!

After graduation, Zoe plans to spend a month in Jingdezhen learning how to make ceramics and traveling with family and friends. After the summer, she will attend UMICH where she was recruited for the PhD program in Anthropology.

Congratulations Zoe! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Zoe’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/4v7qthZ

EASC is excited to highlight Cooper Brown, a graduating senior double majoring in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dorn...
05/16/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Cooper Brown, a graduating senior double majoring in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife and Annenberg Communications!

Cooper found his way to the EAAS major in the pursuit of bridging the language barrier between his close friend’s extended family in Japan. In seeking a deeper connection to them, he discovered a passion for intercultural communication.

Currently, they are interning at NEON films, where they have been offered the opportunity to explore research in box office tracking and international distribution- specifically, what drives audiences across cultural markets to engage with films. They have been able to use a tracking tool to dive deep into analyzing performance data across territories.
After graduation, Cooper will serve as a Princeton in Asia English Teaching Fellow at Cần Thơ University, in Cần Thơ, Vietnam. While teaching English to Vietnamese college students, he will be conducting research on moviegoing practices in Vietnam! Using these experiences, he hopes to re-enter the entertainment industry as an international sales agent, connecting films with audiences worldwide.

Congratulations Cooper! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Cooper’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/4cweAL2

EASC is excited to highlight Rachel Osaki, a graduating senior in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!Rachel has ...
05/16/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Rachel Osaki, a graduating senior in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!

Rachel has dedicated much of her academic research and personal curiosity to understanding and building cross-cultural connections. She has deep appreciation for social and cultural differences and sees the value in acknowledging them with respect and understanding.

Currently, she is interning at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, which has given her opportunities to engage with Asian art and culture in a real-world setting.

She advises student to get involved in student-run clubs to meet friends and explore fun interests. She highly recommends studying abroad, as it is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture.

After graduation, Rachel is excited to continue working in cross-cultural spaces and build connections and meaningful experiences in fields such as travel, hospitality, marketing, and events!

Congratulations Rachel! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Rachel’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/4cKL0l6

Congratulations to our graduating East Asian Area Studies undergraduate and MA students! 🎉 👏 We finished the year off by...
05/15/2026

Congratulations to our graduating East Asian Area Studies undergraduate and MA students! 🎉 👏 We finished the year off by hosting the EASC Commencement Open House today, and it was amazing to see all of our graduates and meet their family and friends! The EASC team is incredibly proud of our graduates' accomplishments and we wish them well in their future endeavors! Congrats and happy summer!🎓🥳

Congratulations to Dr. Seoyeon Lee PhD hooding ceremony!
05/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Seoyeon Lee PhD hooding ceremony!

EASC is excited to highlight Jumi Yoon, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife! Jum...
05/13/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Jumi Yoon, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife! Jumi chose to pursue an MA in EAAS due to her love of learning languages. Having the ability to speak Korean, Japanese, and Chinese led Jumi to become fascinated with the similarities and differences within East Asian cultures.

Jumi’s research focuses on Korean Christianity and the emerging trend of female leadership and divinity in traditionally conservative spaces.

For incoming students, Jumi recommends keeping an open mind since most of her current work isn’t what she imagined doing at the start of her journey. Additionally, Jumi mentions taking things one day at a time since it’s easy to compare yourself to others. After graduation, Jumi plans on starting law school at UC Law SF (formerly UC Hastings).

Congratulations Jumi! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Jumi’s full feature here: https://bit.ly/4w1Yvod

EASC is excited to highlight Kayla Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife! K...
05/11/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Kayla Zhang, a graduating Master’s student in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife! Kayla initially chose to pursue an MA in EAAS due to her fascination with Chinese and Japanese culture and film, often drawn by riveting social and historical narratives.

Her research focuses on contemporary Chinese animation, ideology, and the relationship between mythology and soft power. Right now, Kayla is working on a chapter about Kung Fu Panda with Professor Rosen, which will be published with Bloomsbury.

For incoming students, Kayla recommends being proactive with your network and taking advantage of smaller class sizes and opportunities, as these are easy ways to interact with professors and other experts. After graduation, Kayla plans on continuing her work in film, with a focus on screenwriting. Once she gains more experience, Kayla hopes to direct projects someday.

Congratulations Kayla! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Kayla’s full feature here: https://bit.ly/4edQc2g

EASC is excited to highlight Rachel Osaki, a graduating senior in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!Rachel has ...
05/07/2026

EASC is excited to highlight Rachel Osaki, a graduating senior in East Asian Area Studies (EAAS) at Dornsife!

Rachel has dedicated much of her academic research and personal curiosity to understanding and building cross-cultural connections. She has deep appreciation for social and cultural differences and sees the value in acknowledging them with respect and understanding.

Currently, she is interning at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, which has given her opportunities to engage with Asian art and culture in a real-world setting.

She advises student to get involved in student-run clubs to meet friends and explore fun interests. She highly recommends studying abroad, as it is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture.

After graduation, Rachel is excited to continue working in cross-cultural spaces and build connections and meaningful experiences in fields such as travel, hospitality, marketing, and events!

Congratulations Rachel! We are so proud of you! 🎉

Please see Rachel’s full feature here:
https://bit.ly/4cKL0l6

Address

3454 Trousdale Parkway/CAS 100
Los Angeles, CA
90089

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+12137402991

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