Congratulations to Professor Kong Pheng Pha!
We are thrilled to celebrate Professor Kong Pheng Pha for receiving the Early Career Achievement Award from the Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) earlier this year! This award recognizes a junior scholar who has made valuable contribution to the field in the early stage of their career. Nominees show outstanding and innovative research in Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, exemplify excellence in teaching, and demonstrate a commitment to campus, community, and professional service.
This prestigious national honor recognizes Professor Pha’s outstanding contributions to scholarship, teaching, and community engagement in the fields of Asian American Studies. His work at UW–Madison, where he is a valued faculty member in both Asian American and Gender & Women’s Studies departments, continues to challenge and inspire students and colleagues alike.
In addition to this award, Professor Pha is the author of the forthcoming book Queering the Hmong Diaspora – a powerful examination of how Hmong Americans have been racialized and sexualized in U.S. media, law, and politics. The book centers the experiences of queer Hmong Americans to challenge dominant narratives and offer a bold new framework for understanding refugee subjectivity and cultural identity.
Please join us in congratulating Professor Pha on this well-deserved recognition and celebrating his achievements!