“Asian Studies Group” began with a simple idea—one that surfaced during an afternoon conversation at McDonald’s in 2023. None of us could have imagined how much it would grow over the next three years.
From the beginning, we hoped to build a community that makes the UIUC campus a welcoming and safe place for faculty, graduate students, and anyone interested in Asian Studies to gather, learn, and grow together. We believe that with the resources of our campus and the energy of our vibrant communities, UIUC can become a new center for intellectual exchange in the Midwest.
The early stages of building this organization were not easy. Proposing a new group, seeking administrative guidance, and finding the right institutional support took time, patience, and more than a few setbacks. Looking back, we know we would not have made it here without the encouragement, trust, and generosity of many people around us.
We are deeply grateful for the community members who carried us forward—often quietly, often behind the scenes. This event, and the tradition we are building, would not be possible without them. We would like to take this space to thank them properly.
We are especially grateful to:
Professor Shao Dan, Professor Rodrick Wilson, and Professor Marc Hertzman
for their steady support of our academic growth, and for consistently taking our work and requests seriously.
Nathan Oliveira and Anthony Frasca
for their careful attention to logistics, and for guiding us through complex administrative details with patience and professionalism.
Rhonda Ran Huo, Luming Xu, Jinju Wu, and Haiyi Li
for your commitment to making this event happen year after year—this tradition would not exist without your labor.