Biography
I study and research South Korean popular culture, most particularly K-pop, and its impact on language and literacy education in the United States as well as ethnic formation in East Asian borderlands. As an English Language Arts (ELA) and World Language teacher certified by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), I'm also passionate about community engagement and interdisciplinary dialogues between educational practice at both K-12 and college levels and my own research in cultural studies.
Research Interests
Politics of identity and representation in South Korean media and popular culture; ethnic formation in Chinese borderlands; the philosophy of education; language and literacy education in the US
Education
Ph.D. (Expected Dec 2027), East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Ed.M. (Expected Dec 2026), Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.A. (2022), East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
B.A. (2018) English, Wuhan University
Grants
2023-24 Illinois Global Institute Korean Language Fellowship, $22,500
2021, 2022 & 2023, EALC Summer Research Fellowship
Awards and Honors
2021 Tyler Best Gen-Ed Teaching Award
Courses Taught
CHIN306 Advanced Chinese II (Spring 2020)
CHIN305 Advanced Chinese I (Fall 2020)
CHIN409 Intensive Superior Level Chinese (Summer 2020)
EALC230 Popular Cultures of Contemporary East Asia (Fall 2021 & Fall 2023)
CWL275 Masterpieces of East Asian Literature (Spring 2021 & Spring 2022)
EALC250 Introduction to Japanese Culture (Fall 2022 & Spring 2023)
EALC230 Pop Culture Contemp East Asia (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024 & Spring 2025)
LAS291/292 Global Perspectives for Study Abroad (Fall 2025 & Spring 2026)
9th grade Language & Literature 2 (Spring 2026) University Laboratory High School
10th grade Language & Literature 3 (Spring 2026) University Laboratory High School