Jessica Nguyen sits down with a few members of the Southeast Asian American (SEAA) SEAAster Scholars Collective–Jacqueline Mac, Linda Pheng, Vanessa S. Na, Varaxy Yi–to hear more about their experiences as POC/SEAA in academia, the meaning of homemaking, and the origin story and mission of their collective. After running into each other at various conferences and acknowledging that there were not many SEAA that occupy the academic space, they made it a goal to create a support system that provided the exchange of knowledge and authentic voices/experiences of the SEA diaspora. Oftentimes feeling alienated and isolated in academia, which is a predominantly White space, some members have taken more creative approaches (like dyeing their hair blue) in order to stand out and fight against invisibilization. When speaking about the challenges they had to overcome, they realized they wanted to do more than just survive. They wanted to thrive.
Focusing on fostering a collaborative atmosphere, the SEAAster Scholars Collective was founded to help people feel whole and supported. Engaging with other scholars who are able to empathize with their cultural experiences and honor each other’s beliefs and values, they found empowerment. After sharing their favorite moments and takeaways from being a part of this group, they end the podcast by providing advice and resources to those interested in pursuing a career in academia.
The SOUTHEAST ASIAN AMERICAN (SEAA) SEEASTER SCHOLARS COLLECTIVE is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the postsecondary experiences of SEAA students, staff, and faculty. We met as graduate students through various social connections and higher education networks and were thrilled to learn that there were other Southeast Asian womxn in higher education. We hold individual and collective identities as Khmer American, Lao American, ethnic Chinese Vietnamese American, daughters of refugees, partners, friends, and sisters.
Varaxy Yi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, California State University, Fresno
Malaphone Phommasa, Ph.D., Director, Transfer Student Center, University of California, Santa Barbara
Latana J. Thaviseth, Ph. D. Student, University of California, Los Angeles
Linda Pheng, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Vanessa S. Na, Ph.D. Student, University of California, San Diego
Jacqueline Mac, Ph. D. Candidate, Indiana University, Bloomington
WEBSITE: Seaasters.com
INSTAGRAM: seaaster_scholars
Episode 49: SEARAC: Southeast Asian American Solidarity Toolkit: A Guide to Resisting Deportations and Detentions from the #ReleaseMN8 Campaign
Episode 48: Sharbari Ahmed: Breaking South Asian Stereotypes Across Genres
Episode 47: Jumakae: On Healing and Transformative Justice
Episode 46: Reappropriation through Asian American Feminism
Episode 45: Southeast Asian Podcasters Unite on Class and Education
Episode 44: More on the Asian Diaspora: What's Happening in Australia?
Episode 43: I'm Adulting!: On Personal Finance & Self Care
Episode 42: Level Up!: A Walkthrough on Our History with Gaming
Episode 41: Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma with Calm Clarity
Episode 40: Listen to Your Body: The Appendix Collective
Episode 39: Empowering Voices: AAPI Power Through Media
Episode 38: Love Your Work as Much as Kat Loves L.A.
Episode 37: I'd Rather be a Yellow Ranger than a Model Minority
Episode 36: We're Back and Hmong Women are Taking on the World
Episode 35: Open Hiatus
Episode 34: The Power of Digital Media (and How to Use it to Disrupt White Spaces)
Episode 33: Mental Health: Being There for Loved Ones with Depression
Episode 32: How to Blend into the White World as an Asian Woman
Episode 31: From Chinese Restaurant to Corporate America: What it Means to Have Grit
Episode 30: Japanese Womanhood and Feminism
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