In conjunction with our Spring 2025 course, SEAC will offer the opportunity for SEAC members to apply to participate in our Summer 2025 Field School and Workshop. This will take place in Malaysia.

Upon arrival, participants will work with the cohort and faculty to begin workshopping their projects. Participants will workshop a project related to the theme of the year, Southeast Asian Identities in Popular Culture and Literature, in any area of Southeast Asia, from any disciplinary perspective. Papers for the workshop may address issues of identity as connected to or reflected in popular culture and/or literature, in any area of Southeast Asia, from any disciplinary perspective. (Paper presentations are optional for undergraduate student attendees.)

For the field school, participants will explore emergent, creative scholarly approaches, including applied methods, to examine how popular cultural efforts and artifacts reflect, shape, and are shaped by both dominant and marginalized Southeast Asian identities, in Southeast Asia and among diasporic populations.

Eligibility:

• Faculty including temporary, non-tenure track, tenure track, and tenured

• Graduate students PhD, MA, and other

• Undergraduate students currently registered and continuing students at SUNY and CUNY enrolled in any discipline of study who are engaged in research or studies related to this year’s theme are eligible to apply.

Approximately ten (10) participants will be selected.

SEAC will cover the cost of:

• Airfare to Malaysia

• Room and board for duration of workshop and field school

• Travel insurance (need to be a current student in order to participate)

Responsibilities:

Selected graduate students and undergraduate students will participate in:

• an online synchronous SUNY/CUNY orientation in the Spring semester

• a 3-day workshop in June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• a 7-day field school following the workshop, also in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Students who plan to apply to the field school are encouraged to enroll in a related online-synchronous course in Spring 2025.

Selected faculty (and graduate students interested only in the workshop) will participate in:

• an online synchronous SUNY/CUNY orientation in the Spring semester 2025

• a 3-day workshop in June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What are we looking for? 

From Faculty and Graduate Applications:

1. Quality of Research Project

2. Explanation of how the field school and research in Southeast Asia can benefit your project and career trajectory 

From Undergrad Applications:

1. Motivation: Why do you want to go to Southeast Asia? While heritage students are encouraged, we are especially looking for those who also have intellectual interest.

2. Quality of Research Project

How to Apply:

Deadline: February 17, 2025, 5 pm ET.

Please compile all materials as a single PDF and submit them via email to SEAC@sunycunysoutheastasiaconsortium.org with the subject line “SEAC Workshop 2025” by February 17, 2025, 5 pm ET. Selected applicants will be notified no later than March 17, 2025.

Faculty:

Please submit this application form and the following documents:

1.      Statement of interest in the SUNY/CUNY SEAC Fellowship and this year’s core research agenda, “Southeast Asian identities in popular culture and literature.” Please indicate your prior exposure to or engagement with Southeast Asia, if any, and address how this program will benefit your future academic and/or career goals. (300-500 words)

2.     An abstract for consideration for the workshop (300-500 words)

3.     An updated curriculum vitae

4.     This application form

Graduate students:

Please submit this application form and the following documents:

1.      Statement of interest in the SUNY/CUNY SEAC Fellowship and this year’s core research agenda, “Southeast Asian identities in popular culture and literature.” Please indicate your prior exposure to or engagement with Southeast Asia, if any, and address how this program will benefit your future academic and/or career goals. (300-500 words)

2.     An abstract for consideration for the workshop (300-500 words)

3.     A resume or curriculum vitae

4.     A digital copy of recent university/college transcripts

5.     This application form

Undergraduate students:

Please submit this application form and the following documents:

1.      Statement of interest in the SUNY/CUNY SEAC Fellowship and this year’s core research agenda, “Southeast Asian identities in popular culture and literature.” Please indicate your prior exposure to or engagement with Southeast Asia, if any, and address how this program will benefit your future academic and/or career goals. (300-500 words)

2.     A proposed topic of research interest you would like to explore in the workshop related to this year’s theme, popular culture and literature in Southeast Asia (300-500 words)

3.     A resume or curriculum vitae

4.     A digital copy of recent university/college transcripts

5.     This application form

Inquiries about the application and admission process may be submitted to SEAC@sunycunysoutheastasiaconsortium.org
Facilitators

Dr. Lauren Meeker (SUNY New Paltz)

Dr. Martina Nguyen (Baruch College, CUNY)

Dr. E.K. Tan (SUNY Stony Brook)

SUNY/CUNY SEAC 2023-24 Workshop and Field School in Chiang Mai

The theme of this year: “Sites and Spaces of Mobilization”

Our 2023-2024 inaugural field school in Chiang Mai, Thailand was a great success! See some choice pictures from our trip below.

“It was incredible to participate in the workshop and field school program in Chiang Mai. The entire program was intellectually stimulating, culturally rich, and, most importantly, convivial. I am grateful to share the space with fellow CUNY/ SUNY students and faculty in Southeast Asia, as well as our host institutions and organizations in Chiang Mai. To be able to bridge my home institution and my home/ research area was a generative experience for me.

Also a shout out to our instructors, Professor Benjamin Tausig and Professor Nerve Macaspac, who were gracious in handling the labor of translation and logistics, while maintaining a collaborative and encouraging environment for the participants. I strive to carry the same thoughtfulness and generosity as I navigate graduate school and teaching.”

Tenn Joe Lim, The Graduate Center

Click here for more details on the workshop and field school.