The semester is in full swing and we hope your classes and work are going well. A lot is happening on campus these days - take a look! 

NBR Fellowships

The National Bureau for Asian Research (NBR), a think tank in DC, has fellowships available for undergraduate students interested in international affairs and Asian policy. Two programs are currently accepting applications; here is the information from NBR: 

Applications to NBR's Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship are due by March 12, 2023. For Black and brown community college and undergraduate students interested in a career in international affairs or Asia policy, NBR offers paid four-month summer fellowships for students to expand their networks and develop skills in research, event planning, publications, and general office and project management through direct professional experience. Learn more and apply at www.nbr.org/udfp 

Additionally, NBR’s Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship Program is accepting applications until March 26, 2023. For current graduate or advanced undergraduate students whose degrees focus on issues of strategic importance to the United States in Asia, NBR offers students the opportunity to spend a summer as junior fellows in residence at NBR’s Seattle office, participate in a seminar series featuring high-level speakers from NBR’s network of experts, participate in professional development workshops, and receive guidance from NBR editors. Learn more and apply at www.nbr.org/ekfp.

Dance Performance - This Weekend

The Dance Department at Towson University presents "Kinetic Crossings" this weekend at the Baltimore Theater Project. Intersecting creative pathways, Nicole A. Martinell (Artistic Director of Deep Vision Dance Company) and Saiko Kino (Japanese dancer and choreographer) share an illuminating evening of contemporary dance works. Martinell remakes "In Faith,” a vivid, spiritual journey of friction, connection, and gratitude through the eyes of a Muslim man and a Christian woman. Kino's mesmerizing "Shizuka" revives Shizuka Gozen, a 12th-century mixed-gender dancer known for her extraordinary psychic powers and political influence. 

Performances will take place Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, at 8pm, at the Baltimore Theater Project (45 W. Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201). For tickets and more information, visit https://theatreproject.ticketspice.com/kinetic-crossings

Retrievercon 2023 - This Weekend

UMBC's Anime Society hosts its annual Retrievercon this weekend in the Commons! From cosplay contests and gaming to trivia events and vendors, the convention takes place all day Saturday, March 11. Check out their announcement on myUMBC for more information!

Freeman-Asia Scholarships - Apply by March 28!

For students with demonstrated financial need who have an interest in study abroad in east or southeast Asia, the Freeman-Asia program from IIE offers an incredible opportunity. Award amounts range from $3000 to support summer study abroad, up to $7000 to support a full academic year. Learn more about the program at its website - if you have questions about applying or would like more information, UMBC's Dr. Brian Souders is a great resource - he can be reached by email here. 

ASCOM Returns! 

The Asian Studies Council of Majors (ASCOM) is resuming their regular meetings this week, starting tomorrow (Wednesday, March 8)! 

ASCOM is a student organization for students with an interest in Asia-related topics, culture, and events to meet and chat. Meetings take place in the Fine Arts building, Room 558, and in Spring 2023 they will be happening at 10am on Wednesdays. 

For more information about ASCOM, stop by tomorrow's session, or contact its current president, Milan R., by email. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• March 8 (tomorrow!), 10am - ASCOM meeting, FA 558
• March 11 - Retrievercon (see above)
• March 12 - app deadline, NBR Diversity Fellowship (see above)
• March 19-26 - Spring Break; no classes
• March 27 - Fall 2023 schedule available

The semester is off to a great start here in Asian Studies. We hope you are settling into your rhythm and enjoying your classes. Thank you to those of you who joined us for our Welcome Week sushi event, and our talk last week with Dr. Souders about study abroad and research opportunities in Asia! 

UMBC Review Call for Submissions - Deadline Friday 9/16!

The UMBC Review wants to publish you! Have you completed a research project or creative work during your time at UMBC? Consider submitting it to the peer-reviewed academic journal on campus for publication consideration! The deadline to submit your work is Friday, September 16. Information about how to respond to the call for submissions is available on the Review's website. 

Paid Opportunity at the Walters Art Museum

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is home to a vast array of art from around the world, including a comprehensive and important collection of Asian art. The museum is forming a College Student Advisory Group to bring a college voice on objectives in the collection for the upcoming reinstallation Across Asia. The group will meet six times from late October 2022 to April 2023 to discuss the Across Asia reinstallation and to learn about other programs at the museum that may be of interest to students. 

Successful applicants will be notified in mid-October and will receive a $600 stipend. To apply, you can visit the Walters' website. Please contact Mr. Peter Ibenana, the David Hirschhorn Head of Community Engagement, by phone at 410-547-9000, ext. 565, with any questions. 

Graduate Degree Funding in Hawai'i

Are you thinking about grad school? The East-West Center, located adjacent to the campus of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM), has funding [a scholarship] available for students interested in pursuing graduate study in their program! This is a significant opportunity for anyone interested in developing and strengthening community across the Asia-Pacific region. Information about the program, the fellowship award, and how to apply is available on the East-West Center's website. The deadline to apply is December 1. 

Fall 2022 Internship and Career Fair - Sept 21

UMBC's Career Center will host the Fall 2022 Internship and Career Fair on Wednesday, Sept 21 (next week!), in person at the RAC. More than 100 employers will be there, and they want to meet you! Visit the Career Center's event page for more information. 

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We've probably all tried that hot new word-of-the-day game with the colorful squares. There are several variants of the original recipe, but maybe guessing English words is not enough of a challenge? If regular Wordle has lost its sparkle for you, give this Chinese-language variant a try! 

Learn Classical Chinese or Classical Japanese in Venice This Summer!

If you have at least one year of either Chinese or Japanese language experience, and are interested in studying any aspect of pre-modern China or Japan, take a look at this year's Princeton/Ca' Foscari Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese/Kanbun summer school! Taught by faculty from Princeton and Ca' Foscari Universities, the session takes place in July in central Venice. Students will learn the equivalent of one semester of either language. If you're interested, you can pre-apply on their website by the March 31 deadline.  

Asian Studies Faculty Candidates Visits and Presentations

Thank you to those of you who joined us last week for our first candidate presentation! If you were unable to attend, you still have an opportunity to meet our other two finalists. One of these three candidates will be joining Asian Studies in the fall. Be among the first on campus to hear from them as they answer the question, "What is Asia?" 

All student attendees will receive a t-shirt as well as a boxed lunch (sandwich, chips, fruit, cookie, bottled water) to take away. You are welcome to attend one or both of the remaining sessions. Because seating is limited due to Covid-19, be sure to RSVP on myUMBC if you plan to attend: 

• Friday, February 25, 9:45am Candidate Talk
• Monday, February 28, 11am Candidate Talk

Virtual Career and Internship Fair - This Friday!

More than 100 employers will be waiting to meet you at Friday's Virtual Career and Internship Fair - will you be there? Asian Studies students' language skills and research interests make them appealing candidates for employers in a variety of industries, from the government and non-profits to STEM and healthcare. To sign up, be sure to log into UMBCworks and click 'Attend' in the event's page! The fair will be open from 11:30-3:30 on Friday. 

National Bureau of Asian Research - Diversity Fellowship Info Session This Thursday

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is hosting an online information session at 3pm on Thursday, February 24, for students interested in applying to their summer Diversity Fellowship. The paid Fellowship begins remotely/virtually in May, and from June to August takes place at NBR's offices in Washington, DC. Students with freshman, sophomore, or junior standing who are interested in international affairs and foreign policy can learn more about the fellowship on NBR's website. The application deadline for the fellowship is March 27.

To RSVP for the online information session, please email Jerome Siangco [jsiangco@nbr.org]. If you are interested but not able to attend, Mr. Siangco is also happy to set up an appointment for an individual Q&A session. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Thursday, Feb 24, 3pm: NBR Fellowship Virtual Q&A (see above)
• Friday, Feb 25, 9:45am: Second Faculty Candidate Talk (see above)
• Friday, Feb 25, 11:30am: Virtual Career & Internship Fair (see above)
• Monday, Feb 28, 11am: Third Faculty Candidate Talk (see above)
• March 7: Internship/Independent Study Add-for-Credit Deadline

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Us!

There is a lot to celebrate in Asian Studies this spring! Stop by this week or next to pick up a Cup Noodles, an orange, and a fortune cookie, so we can celebrate the new year in a Covid-policy-compliant way. 

We are also celebrating our 10th anniversary at UMBC this year! Asian Studies students are also welcome to pick up an Asian Studies t-shirt when they pick up their Lunar New Year lunch items. 

Check out the myUMBC event page for more information about when and where these giveaways are happening! 

Summer Fellowship with the National Bureau of Asian Research

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) seeks applicants for their four-month Undergraduate Diversity Fellowships. The NBR Undergraduate Diversity Fellowship aims to extend educational, professional, and mentorship opportunities to Black and brown students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of international affairs or Asia policy. 

Fellows will receive mentorship and professional experience as they work full-time on-site at NBR's offices in Washington, DC, throughout the summer. For detailed information about the fellowship, visit NBR's website.

The deadline to submit your application is March 27, 2022, at 11:59pm EST. 

KAA-Pony Chung Foundation Korea-America Essay Prize Competition - Top Prize $10,000!

Have you written a great essay about Korea-U.S. diplomacy, security, or economic policy? The KAA-Pony Chung Foundation wants you to submit it to their competition. Three winners will receive cash prizes ($10,000, $5,000, $1,000). Any undergraduate student with Korean or American citizenship is eligible to apply. 

The deadline to submit your essay and the other application materials is March 30, 2022, and prize announcements will be made in mid-April. Detailed submission and eligibility information is available on the Korean-American Association's website. 

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