By Richard LeComte

LEXINGTON, KY – Two professors in the College of Arts and Sciences will represent the University of Kentucky at the Summer Institute on Modern Southeast Asia at the East-West Center in Hawaii from July 29 to Aug. 9.  

Liang Luo, professor of Chinese studies in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Charlie Yi Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, will participate in the institute at the University of Hawaii.  

“Dr. Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization, offered immense support crucial securing our spots in the institute,” Lou said. “Dr. Yujia He, assistant professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, also played a crucial role in developing the proposal as a member of the applicant team. Additionally, Shanna Herron, senior proposal development officer, provided editorial support, refining and enhancing the proposal.” 

The competitive, two-week residential summer institute for college and university teachers will be hosted on the East-West Center campus in Honolulu by the Asian Studies Development Program. The Henry Luce Foundation sponsors the institute.  

The summer institute will examine Modern Southeast Asia in its geographical and historical context as a cultural crossroad that was subject to competing colonial interests from the 17th to the early 20th century, and that remains one of the most linguistically, ethnically and religiously diverse regions of the world.