On Friday, May 8, we held our second Asian Studies commencement ceremony at which we recognized our seven Spring and Summer 2015 graduating majors, and our four Fall 2014, Spring 2015, and Summer 2015 graduating minors. In addition to receiving their diploma covers, our majors also gave presentations on their senior theses, a requirement for all Asian Studies majors.
Jessica Wolff, Asian Studies and Anthropology double major, presented her research on "Nationalist Archaeologies聽of Korea and Applying Multivocal Interpretations," which she studied under the guidance of Dr. Sungyun Lim of the Department of History.
After Wolff presented, Earl Grey Chrysogelos, a double major in Asian Studies and Chinese, with a minor in Religious Studies, presented the research he did under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Stuckey of the Department of Asian Languages & Civilizations, entitled, "Capitalist Influences on Chinese Masculinities through Cinema."
Next was Leslie J. Dong, who presented on "Founding a Startup: Challenges in China and the United States," which she completed under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Weston of the Department of History. Dong is a double major in Asian Studies and International Affairs and Foreign Studies, in which she graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Laura Graham, double major in Asian Studies and Japanese, followed Dong with her presentation, "Working Hard or Hardly Working: An Examination of Factors Contributing to Workloads of Tokugawa Peasants," research she did under the guidance of Dr. Marcia Yonemoto of the Department of History.
Asian Studies major Gary Lee, a Summer 2015 graduate, discussed the research he is doing with Dr. Lucy Chester of the Department of History on the man famously known as "Lawrence of Arabia" in his presentation, "Lawrence: A Man in Tension."
Morgan Sweeney, an Asian Studies major with a minor in Religious Studies and a certificate in South Asian Languages and Civilizations, offered the final presentation of the day. Also an Summer 2015 graduate, she discussed her experiences while studying abroad in India and how it shaped the research she is currently doing with Dr. Holly Gayley of the Department of Religious Studies, in her presentation, "Sannyasinis in Banaras: Female Piety in Hindu Renunciation."
All of these research projects were insightful and demonstrated the work and commitment to scholarship with which each student completed his or her project.
Congratulations and all the best to these and to the 蜜糖直播 Class of 2015!