Introduction to modern spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin) for non-native speakers. Native speakers may not take this course.
The reception and celebration for Professor Albert Welter’s retirement, hosted jointly by the Department of East Asian Studies and the Center for Buddhist Studies, was a warm and memorable evening honoring his distinguished career, scholarly legacy, and many years of dedication to the University of Arizona.
Held on April 24 at 5:00 pm on the 4th Floor Student Union Terrace, the event brought together faculty, students, colleagues, and friends to celebrate Professor Welter’s lasting contributions to our academic community. As former Head of the Department of East Asian Studies and a core faculty member of the Center for Buddhist Studies, Professor Welter has provided invaluable leadership, mentorship, and service.
Faculty and students from the Department of East Asian Studies offered remarks expressing deep gratitude for his contributions and extending their heartfelt wishes for his retirement. Many distinguished scholars from outside the university also shared their congratulations and best wishes through video messages, which were collected and beautifully produced by Professor Welter’s student, Yuyu Zhang, and screened during the reception.
The celebration also took place alongside the international symposium “A Buddhist Heaven on Earth: Hangzhou Buddhism and Its Historical Significance,” which honored Professor Welter’s pioneering scholarship on Chinese Buddhism and the religious and cultural worlds of Hangzhou.
Congratulations, Professor Welter, and best wishes for this new chapter!
Dr. Feng-hsi Liu, Professor Emerita in the Department of East Asian Studies and longtime director of the Chinese Language Program, passed away in March.
She joined the University of Arizona faculty in 1991 as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Chinese Language Program. Over the past three decades, she has played a pivotal role in shaping and expanding the Chinese language curriculum, fostering a rigorous learning environment for generations of students, said Wenhao Diao, Head of the East Asian Studies Department.
Throughout her long and distinguished career, Liu demonstrated an unwavering commitment to scholarship, teaching and service, leaving an indelible mark on the institution and the field of Chinese linguistics.
The author or editor of four books and numerous articles and book chapters, Liu was a renowned scholar in Chinese language, linguistics and grammar, with a particular focus on the syntax-semantics interface. Her research reshaped the study of Chinese word order by demonstrating how aspect, event structure, specificity and quantification determine syntactic distribution and interpretation.
Dr. Hang Du, John D. Berninghausen Professor of Chinese and Greenberg-Starr Chair of the Chinese Department at Middlebury College, worked and studied with Liu for six years while pursuing her Ph.D. in the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching program.
“I took her Chinese Linguistics class, worked as a graduate teaching associate for her in multiple classes, and used her theoretical framework for my dissertation on the acquisition of the Chinese ba-construction,” Du said. “She was a brilliant linguist, an effective teacher, an inspiring mentor and dissertation advisor, and a kind human being. She will always live in my heart."
Liu led the Chinese language program from 1991 until her retirement in 2024. Additionally, she served as Director of Graduate Studies from 2019 until 2024.
“Leading a language program is not just about classroom teaching, but mentoring instructors and graduate students who work within the program, as well as organizing cultural events to bring that authentic experience and cross-cultural understanding outside of the class,” Diao said.
Beyond her scholarly work, Liu consistently led various cultural initiatives that greatly supported student retention and program development. The most recent example is a $210,000 Huayu BEST grant Liu received in 2024 from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, funding major Chinese holiday celebrations in the department and providing critical financial support for our students to study abroad in Taiwan.
Liu received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from UCLA in 1990, her M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Iowa in 1979, and her B.A., Foreign Languages and Literature from National Taiwan University in Taipei in 1977.
Itsumi Ishikawa-Peck, Instructor in the Department of East Asian Studies and interim director of the Japanese language program, is the recipient of the College of Humanities 2026 Distinguished Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award.
In a nomination letter, Wenhao Diao, Head of the Department of East Asian Studies, and Maggie Camp, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Undergraduate Studies, wrote that “Itsumi (or Ishikawa sensei, as she’s known favorably among the students) not only teaches with care and excellence, but she has also been an amazing mentor to all the students, the instructors, and the graduate teaching assistants.”
“Itsumi has been a beloved Japanese language teacher for over two decades and a consistently dedicated teacher and mentor to thousands of the students who have gone through the program,” they wrote.
One student wrote in support of the nomination letter that Ishikawa-Peck was the first teacher she had at the U of A and despite the 9 a.m. start time, the Japanese 101 class was a delightful experience. And two years later in Japanese 202, also with Ishikawa-Peck, she was close to tears walking into the final class session.
“The support I was given by Ishikawa-sensei for the two years that it took to go through the Japanese courses for the minor enabled me to pursue my dream of understanding a language and culture that had fascinated me as a young child,” she wrote. “Ishikawa-sensei was an enthusiastic instructor each and every time she interacted with students. Across departments, across disciplines, and across language barriers, I do not think I have had a better professor in this whole university that has supported and been a mentor to me throughout my undergraduate career than Professor Ishikawa-Peck.”
Another student wrote that she had initially intended to take just two semesters of Japanese to fulfill graduation requirements, but instead decided to continue, even going to study abroad in Japan, with a new goal of reaching full fluency in the language.
“Professor Ishikawa’s unique and empathetic teaching style changed my view on language learning entirely and made me realize sides to learning I have never noticed before. She is the reason for me continuing to learn Japanese, declaring it as a minor, and going on to study abroad. She has done many things that changed my career trajectory,” the student wrote. “The more I work with her, the more my respect, admiration, and confidence in her grows. Her dedication to improving the Japanese Language program at this university is a gift to the department, and her commitment to helping every single student thrive in her classes cannot be understated.”
Undergraduate mentoring is more than just recruitment and numbers; it is also about caring, kindness, and community building, wrote Diao and Camp. As the interim Japanese language program director, she worked to attract many more students as majors and minors to the program. At one point, the number of minors increased by 54 percent in one week.
“Her combination of strategic vision, personal care, and sustained leadership has translated into measurable growth and student commitment to the program,” they wrote. “Itsumi’s outstanding mentorship extends far beyond effective classroom pedagogy and proven recruitment strategies; she models empathy, resilience, and care in ways that profoundly shape her students’ lives.”
The Department of East Asian Studies is proud to announce that the following faculty members have received promotions for their exceptional teaching, service, and research:
Congratulations on this incredible achievement!
Celebrating the Achievements and Success of our Students!
The Department of East Asian Studies hosted its annual award ceremony on Friday, May 8, 2026, to celebrate the graduating class of 2026 and to acknowledge its students for their exceptional performance and achievements during the academic year.
The following awards were given:
The Charles O. Hucker Founders Award for Excellence in Chinese Studies: The Charles O. Hucker Founders Award is named after Professor Charles O. Hucker, who came to the University of Arizona in 1956 and established the Oriental Studies Department, the predecessor of the University of Arizona’s current East Asian Studies Department and Near Eastern Studies departments. This award has been given annually since 1997 to honor a student for academic achievement in the field of Chinese.
Winners: Annie Chen and Edward Peng
Honorable Mention: Aurora Hudson Beeks
The Barbara Blair Prize for Excellence in Japanese Studies: The Barbara Blair Prize, started in 2007, is named after Barbara Bowman Blair (1925-2005). The Blair Prize was established both to honor Barbara Blair, and the academic accomplishments of U of A students, but also in the hope that the recipients will, in their own individual ways, contribute in the future to cross-cultural understanding, particularly between the nations of Japan and the United States.
Winner: Leah Lancaster
Honorable Mentions: Erin Balsa and Laurel Falk
The Center for East Asian Studies Graduating Senior Award: The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) has established this award to honor an outstanding graduating senior in East Asian Studies, especially those who have demonstrated achievement in the Korea Studies program.
Winner: Genevieve Kloch
Honorable Mention: Lily Jones
The East Asian Studies and Center for East Asian Studies Award: This award is being given in memory of Josiah Santos and his motto, ‘Do it scared; do it anyway.’ It is intended to celebrate someone who improvised, took a chance, or pushed their limits.
Winner: Claire Annalise De León
Honorable Mention: Chihiro Kazui
The Outstanding Senior Capstone Award
Winners: Margo Bartlett, Chris Ketterer, and Lake Goodrum Sterling
The Graduate Assistant, Teaching Special Recognition Award: This recognizes the outstanding contributions that the department's Graduate Assistants (GATs) have made to graduate teaching and the mission of the department.
Shyla Barton
Eunsil Cho
Nena Choi
Shi Li
Gregg Midon
Harrison Moffatt
Subin Oh
Yang Xing
Xingyu Wang
Yuwei Wang
Tengyun Zhang
The Center for Buddhist Studies - Khyentse Foundation Student Award: The Khyentse Foundation Student Award was established in 2018 at the Center for Buddhist Studies to encourage the University of Arizona graduate and undergraduate students to study Buddhism and its related subjects. Since 2001, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and a team of volunteers have been committed to providing funding for individuals and organizations seeking to make the dharma available to the world.
Winners: Quinn Anthony Veno, Miles Paige McDonald, and Ziling Wan
Honorable Mention: John Han
The Taiwan Economic & Cultural Office Chinese Achievement Award: Sponsored by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), this award recognizes the highest-achieving student in each level of the Chinese Language Program’s classes.
CHN 101- Elementary Chinese I
Osarenren Kenneth Ize-Iyamu and Sean Masters
CHN 102 - Elementary Chinese II
Brynn Feinstein, Sumaya Eman Tarazi, and Brad Matthew Wong
CHN 201 - Intermediate Modern Chinese I
Mariko Tsujimoto
CHN 202 - Intermediate Modern Chinese II
Seungwoo Yu
CHN 302 - Third Year Chinese II
Addison Han
CHN 417 - Advanced Modern Chinese
Ronnie Laurel Beason
Presented by JPN 245!
Join us for a free film screening of Look Back, a critically acclaimed animated film based on the manga by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto.
Look Back follows two young artists whose lives are forever changed by their shared passion for drawing. What starts as competition grows into a powerful friendship that explores creativity, identity, and the impact we have on each other’s lives.
In just under an hour, the film delivers a deeply moving story about art, ambition, friendship, and grief, capturing both the joy and vulnerability of being a creator.
On April 24, 2026, the Korean Language Program held its inaugural Korean Speaking Contest in ILC 130, the first of what will become an annual tradition. Finalists, supporters, and faculty filled the room for an afternoon of speeches in Korean.
Dr. Jieun Ryu, Director of the Korean Language Program, opened the contest with a welcome speech. Subin Oh served as MC, introducing the judges and finalists and keeping the program moving.
Seven finalists, each having advanced through a preliminary round, took the stage. Beginner-level students Gyuhui, Nhung, Sophia, and Liye, all from KOR 101 and KOR 102, spoke on the theme "Things I like," sharing personal stories from their daily lives. Nhung's speech stood out: she talked about her dream journal, her music, and her love of movies, in fluent Korean that made the small details land. Intermediate-level students Claire, Derek, and Brooklyn (Haru), all from KOR 302 and KOR 401, took on the theme "What makes a good life." Claire reflected on meaning and love, on pursuing her dreams while staying grateful for the love of family and friends, and her speech drew a strong response from the audience.
The judges—Dr. Jieun Ryu, Professor Sojung Chun, Nena Choi, and Eunsil Cho—listened closely to each speaker. The audience was a mix of fellow Korean language students, friends, faculty, and others who came out of interest in Korean or in the contest itself. When it came time for the Audience Award vote, the room went quiet; everyone clearly took the choice seriously. The result was a tie, a fitting outcome given how strong the field was this year.
The Grand Prize went to Nhung (Beginner) and Claire (Intermediate), and the Audience Award was shared by Gyuhui and Brooklyn (Haru). All award recipients received a Finalist Certificate and a scholarship from the Department of East Asian Studies.
The event was organized by Professor Sojung Chun and Subin Oh. Thanks to the judges, the organizers, and every student who got up to speak, this year's contest was one to remember. 모두 수고했습니다! 🎉
Hosted by the Korean Language Program
The Korean Program in EAS at the University of Arizona invites students to participate and showcase their Korean language skills at our inaugural speaking contest. Students who pass the initial round by submitting their video by April 8 will present on April 24.
Awards
