Dr. Yan Geng has joined the Art & Art History faculty as a joint appointment between Art History and Asian American Studies. She is part of a growing cadre of faculty focused on Asia and the Asian diaspora. Professor Geng’s research focuses on modern and contemporary Chinese art.
“This focus allowed us to hire people who significantly build upon the established field of Asian studies by engaging contemporary and modern questions,” says Cathy Schlund-Vials, associate professor of English and director of the Asian American Studies Institute. “We’re moving from traditional area studies to a more global focus. At the same time, we are expanding the internationalist work of the faculty in Asian American studies, whose work is shaped by considerations of migration, movement, and diaspora.”
Daniel Weiner, vice provost for global affairs, says, “It’s a very exciting time to invest in faculty with expertise pertaining to Asia. It’s also exciting that UConn has an opportunity to construct the study of Asia in a unique way through inclusion of transnational and diasporic studies.”
In Spring 2014, Dr. Geng will teach a course on the painting traditions of China and Japan (ARTH 3740: Far Eastern Painting), and permission numbers are available for this class. Be sure to look for more of Dr. Geng’s courses in the future!