CSEAS is thrilled and honored to share that CSEAS core faculty member Khatharya Um, Associate Professor of Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious Academic Prize for 2023 by the Fukuoka Prize Committee. Since its establishment in 1990, the Fukuoka Prize has commemorated the outstanding achievements of individuals, groups, or organizations who, in the words of the Secretariat of the Fukuoka Prize Committee, "create as well as preserve the many distinct and diverse cultures in the Asian region." They continue: "The Prize aims to foster and increase awareness of the value of Asian cultures, and to establish a foundation from which people of the Asia can learn and share with one another." The Academic Prize in particular recognizes individuals/groups that have made outstanding achievements in the field of Asian studies, contributing to the world's understanding of Asia.
In their Award Citation for Professor Um, the Fukuoka Prize Committee emphasizes Professor Um's commitment to educating the next generation and fostering a campus environment of mutual respect amidst difference. They note how she has long been engaged in the practice of envisioning "practical steps towards a peaceful and fair world." Central to this practice has been Professor Um's investigation of the history of the Cambodian civil war and genocide and her illumination of the experiences of survivors of this period, many of whom fled their homes and rebuilt communities in the US, France, Cambodia, and other locations. The new paths of research and action charted by Professor Um "construct a spirit of civic solidarity that transcends national borders."
CSEAS extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Um, and applauds her as she continues her work that creates crucial connections across time and difference, with the ever-urgent aim of enabling and enhancing collective flourishing.
We encourage you to read the full citation here.
June 9, 2023