WEAI Annual Report 2021 - 2020-2021年回顾与学院工作概述

Aug 21, 2026

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Annual Report 2020–2021 presents the Weatherhead East Asian Institute’s response to COVID-19 and its impact on research, programming, and community life. The report highlights website and news digest upgrades, the shift to virtual events, and expanded digital resource sharing. It summarizes major lectures, panels on trauma, memory, and political change, and initiatives addressing anti-Asian racism. It also notes graduate and postdoctoral activities, student engagement, staffing updates, and funding sources that sustained the Institute during a pivotal year.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages51

Reading Time2 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

Letter from the Director

Weatherhead East Asian Institute

Research Community

Publications

Research Programs of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Affiliated Columbia Centers

Public Programming

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Students

Asia for Educators Program

Staff of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute

Funding Sources

Columbia University Map: Morningside Campus and Environs

ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Letter from the Director 2 2 Weatherhead East Asian Institute 4 3 Research Community 6 4 Publications 21 5 Research Programs of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Affiliated Columbia Centers 28 6 Public Programming 32 7 Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 41 8 Students 42 9 Asia for Educators Program 45 10 Staff of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute 47 11 Funding Sources 48 12 Columbia University Map: Morningside Campus and Environs 49 1 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR The 2020–2021 academic year is sure to remain in our collective memory as one of the most challenging, yet pivotal, years of our lifetimes. COVID-19 threatened our traditions; our unique community of scholars, students, and individuals from myriad diverse backgrounds; and the serendipitous exchanges that result from their combined efforts. New daily stresses combined with restrictions on our freedom of movement left us immobilized, mentally and physically. But what we discovered in the midst of an epidemic of uncertainty was an opportunity to reimagine the work of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, to propel us faster and further in new directions. A few bright spots stand out in particular. At the start of the fall semester, we were thrilled to unveil our new website, which adds accessibility and integration with other Columbia platforms. We also revamped our weekly news and events email digest. Although our physical access to research materials was impeded, these platforms allowed us to share digital resources, which we compiled and disseminated through our COVID-19 Resources page. We would like to extend our gratitude to the staff of the C.V. Starr East Asian Library for their tireless work to ensure that our research could continue throughout the pandemic. Virtual events continued, and the flexibility of the webinar format allowed us to welcome participants from around the world. We witnessed record attendance at events that might otherwise have been limited by scheduling conflicts and room capacity. 2 More than 600 people attended an online panel discussion that invited professors Lan Cao of Chapman University and Viet Than Nguyen of the University of Southern California and human rights activist Hoi Trinh to discuss “Trauma and Memory in Vietnamese America: Anti-Communism, Authoritarianism, and Anti-Asian Violence in a Divided Community,” with professors LienHang Nguyen and John Phan. Other tremendously successful events included our annual NT Wang lecture on “The Future of China in the World Economy”; Professor Gerald Curtis’s annual Japanese politics lecture on “Political Change in the Post-Abe Era”; and an event with the representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the United States, Bi-khim Hsiao, on “Challenges and Opportunities in US-Taiwan Relations.” Throughout the year, the Institute’s scholarly community was tapped for expertise and insight into current events, including the Tokyo Olympics, the US presidential election of Joe Biden, the global pandemic recovery effort, and the violent attacks against Asians and Asian Americans. These timely topics were also reflected in our programming: Our “WEAI in a COVID-19 World” event series continued this academic year, and we hosted a number of events on the implications of the new US administration for Asia, including a popular event on“Prospects for US-China Relations in the Biden Era,” hosted in collaboration with the Columbia Alumni Association. We also launched a resource page titled“Stand Against Anti-Asian Racism” and collaborated with a variety of partners, including those beyond the University, on a series of related events that confronted the recent rise in anti-Asian violence and America’s history of anti-Asian xenophobia. Building on this effort, and representative of our commitment to addressing in real time issues facing Asia and people of Asian descent around the world, we are

FAQs

How did the institute adapt its operations during the 2020–2021 academic year?

It launched a new website, revamped a weekly news and events digest, and expanded digital resource sharing through a COVID-19 Resources page. Virtual events continued, supported by the flexibility of webinars.

What kinds of public programming and events were featured in the report?

The report describes online panels and lectures, including discussions on trauma and memory in Vietnamese America, the future of China in the world economy, and Japanese politics in the post-Abe era. It also covers programming focused on US Asia policy and US–Taiwan relations.

What initiatives addressed anti-Asian racism during this period?

The institute created a resource page titled “Stand Against Anti-Asian Racism” and collaborated on events confronting increased anti-Asian violence. It expanded the “Asia in Action” initiative to support research, artistic work, and political action, including an event series on knowledge and inclusion in a time of fear and ignorance.

Aug 21, 2026

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