When Associate Professor of History Lisa Trivedi suggested to Jia Huang '09 that she create an exhibit for her senior thesis that would correspond with the 2008 New York Conference on Asian Studies, Huang immediately embraced the opportunity. Although she has attended school in the United States for the past six years, she admits that the prospect of writing a 40-page thesis paper in her second language was daunting. Conversely, an exhibition would ensure that her knowledge of and interest in Asian culture would translate to a wider audience.
Although Huang is originally from China, she did not intend on becoming an Asian Studies concentrator until Professor Trivedi's history course, Exploring Culture in the Great Cities of Asia, sparked her curiosity. The two formed a quick rapport, and when Huang was deciding where to spend her junior semester abroad, Trivedi suggested that she apply to the program she ran in India. Once there, Huang began researching the country's education system; the investigative and analytical techniques she developed led Professor Trivedi to suggest that Huang use those tools to create an exhibition for the following year's conference. Trivedi is director of the Asian Studies program.
Huang elected to remain at Hamilton the following summer to begin her project. In order to create an engaging, representative display, it was important that she collect information from a variety of sources. The exhibition, which demonstrates Hamilton alumni's progressive contributions to Asian culture, draws upon diaries, photographs and publications to present a wide spectrum of experiences. Featured graduates include missionaries, educators, and business agents; the multiplicity of social, political and economic impacts are important to Huang's thesis. "I want to show the community what great contributions our alumni have given to China and Korea because they're largely overlooked; I wanted a more diverse representation of our college's interest and charitable work," she explains, noting that while students may be aware of the entrepreneurial success of alumni on the continent, they may not be as informed about philanthropic achievements. "Alumni built hospitals, expanded schools, and were committed to improving social welfare in Asia," Huang says. "Hopefully, students will see the history Hamilton has with Asia, and will take an interest, too."
Before leaving, Huang stressed that this project not only taught her about Hamilton alumni, but about the generosity and enthusiasm of Hamilton faculty presently on campus. "This was really a collaborative effort, it reflects the Hamilton staff's dedication and how caring they are. I want students to know how many resources are available to them," she added, specifically citing the assistance she received from the archive librarians, Professor Trivedi and additional professors who helped with the exhibition's arrangement as well as with the editing process. The exhibition is available for public viewing on the first floor of Burke Library through Wednesday, October 8.
-- by Sarah Caney '09
Although Huang is originally from China, she did not intend on becoming an Asian Studies concentrator until Professor Trivedi's history course, Exploring Culture in the Great Cities of Asia, sparked her curiosity. The two formed a quick rapport, and when Huang was deciding where to spend her junior semester abroad, Trivedi suggested that she apply to the program she ran in India. Once there, Huang began researching the country's education system; the investigative and analytical techniques she developed led Professor Trivedi to suggest that Huang use those tools to create an exhibition for the following year's conference. Trivedi is director of the Asian Studies program.
Huang elected to remain at Hamilton the following summer to begin her project. In order to create an engaging, representative display, it was important that she collect information from a variety of sources. The exhibition, which demonstrates Hamilton alumni's progressive contributions to Asian culture, draws upon diaries, photographs and publications to present a wide spectrum of experiences. Featured graduates include missionaries, educators, and business agents; the multiplicity of social, political and economic impacts are important to Huang's thesis. "I want to show the community what great contributions our alumni have given to China and Korea because they're largely overlooked; I wanted a more diverse representation of our college's interest and charitable work," she explains, noting that while students may be aware of the entrepreneurial success of alumni on the continent, they may not be as informed about philanthropic achievements. "Alumni built hospitals, expanded schools, and were committed to improving social welfare in Asia," Huang says. "Hopefully, students will see the history Hamilton has with Asia, and will take an interest, too."
Before leaving, Huang stressed that this project not only taught her about Hamilton alumni, but about the generosity and enthusiasm of Hamilton faculty presently on campus. "This was really a collaborative effort, it reflects the Hamilton staff's dedication and how caring they are. I want students to know how many resources are available to them," she added, specifically citing the assistance she received from the archive librarians, Professor Trivedi and additional professors who helped with the exhibition's arrangement as well as with the editing process. The exhibition is available for public viewing on the first floor of Burke Library through Wednesday, October 8.
-- by Sarah Caney '09
