00. Beyond the Academy: Careers for Asianists

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

As the academic job market changes and tenure-track positions for Asianists become scarcer than in the past, many young scholars are looking elsewhere for employment. Not all graduate programs or advisors are equipped to advise them on pursuing a non-academic career. This roundtable is designed to assist students and recent graduates who are considering a career outside academia. Four Asianists will share their experiences in banking, the non-profit sector, journalism, and foundation work and discuss how their academic training prepared them for those careers. The panelists will cover topics such as which skills translate into a career outside the academy, how to approach a non-academic job search, and how to deal with academic colleagues when they aren’t supportive of these choices. To maximize time for Q&A, audience members should submit questions in advance (email them to mcunningham@asian-studies.org).

Area of Study

• Interarea-Border Crossing

Session Organizers

• Maura Elizabeth Cunningham, Association for Asian Studies

• Laurel Kendall, American Museum of Natural History

Chair

• Maura Elizabeth Cunningham, Association for Asian Studies

Discussants

• David Janes, U. S.-Japan Foundation

• Helena Kolenda, Henry Luce Foundation

• Christian F. Murck, Yale-China Association

• Margaret Scott, New York University

• Krisna Uk, AAS