Dr. Carrie Currier Q&A

Teaching in the MLA since:				2011
Specialty/Area of Research:				Chinese politics
MLA Courses Taught:				Chinese Foreign Policy

 

 

 

 

 

How many years have you been teaching in the MLA program and what class or classes have you taught?

I have been teaching in the MLA program since 2011.  I teach a Chinese Foreign Policy course online.

Tell us a little bit about your specialty or area of research?

My area of research is Chinese politics.  I specialize in both Chinese domestic and foreign policy and do research on a wide range of issues including: population policy, arms transfers, energy, economic development, entrepreneurship, and popular protest.  In addition, I publish on a range of issues related to Asian Americans in higher education.

How does your background inform your teaching and scholarship?

I am of Chinese heritage, I speak Chinese, and before COVID I was able to go to China regularly, which helped to inform both my teaching and scholarship.  I have conducted surveys in China on the status of women, and I still have family in China that help me keep up to date on what is happening in the country.  My interests are more than just in China but in Asia more generally.  I have a grant from the Freeman Foundation to run the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia in Texas, where I run free programs for K-12 educators to help them incorporate more about East Asia into their classrooms.  I have been running this program for the past 9 years and it is a great way to help educators become more familiar with Asian politics, culture and society.

What do you hope students walk away from your class having learned or gained?

I tell my students that by the time they have finished the course they will be more knowledgeable about China and international politics more generally.  They should have a better understanding of the motivations driving Chinese behavior and how it compares to the US.  At the bare minimum, I joke that they will at least be better dinner conversationalists! 

Tell us about your current research/publications.

My latest projects and publications have not focused directly on Asia but have been on Asian Americans in higher education.  I have published a few different pieces that outline the various challenges facing Asian Americans today.  In addition I’m working on an edited volume on Etta Hulme’s political cartoons with my colleague Jim Riddlesperger, which has been a fun project and we plan to showcase some of these in a public display honoring Hulme’s work in the coming year.