Spring 2014 seminar: Ph.D. candidate, government
Diane Wong is currently a doctoral student in Cornell University's Department of Government. Her research interests include American politics, Asian American politics, race and ethnicity, urban politics, women of color feminism, and youth activism. As a scholar activist and organizer, her research stems from a passion for community-building. After receiving her bachelor's degree at Binghamton University, Wong spent time at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) based in New York City. She worked closely with local residents and small businesses to piece together a walking tour titled “Voices from Ground One: Post-9/11 Chinatown” that documents the profound changes and hardships that the effects of 9/11 and post-9/11 policies have had on the residential area. Her current research explores how the process of gentrification impacts the lives of communities of color living in urban spaces. As the director of advocacy for the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU), Wong works with students, faculty, and administrators from various college campuses to establish Asian-American studies programs across the country. Recently, she helped launch an inaugural High School Ambassadors Leadership Program for Washington, DC and New York City metro area high school students interested in discussing Asian-American identity and political activism.