Who We Are
All full and part-time graduate students who are enrolled in the Department of East Asian Studies (EAS) are members of the East Asian Studies Graduate Student Union (EASGSU). The elected representatives who serve on the EASGSU executive committee work to represent the interests of graduate students and strive to foster a sense of community on campus that is both intellectually and socially engaging. We work closely with EAS faculty and departmental administrators to ensure that your needs are being met and that your time in grad school is both positive and rewarding.
The EASGSU contributes to enhancing our student community by:
- Working with the Chair; Associate Chair, Graduate; and departmental administrators on student and program issues
- Organizing scholarly events and seminars including professional development workshops
- Introducing incoming students to the university and the city
- Arranging social events
Visit the EASGSU website for more resources and information
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/easgsu_uoft?igsh=bGxqcDY1aHQ5dHh0
Red Note: https://xhslink.com/m/ATzYdTMfoJ6
Governance Structure
The EASGSU is a member of the U of T Graduate Students' Union (UTGSU) from which it receives annual funding. Each fall, the graduate students at EAS elect the executive committee to lead the EASGSU for the coming year. All EAS graduate students (full and part-time) are welcome to participate in our monthly meetings and we strongly encourage anyone who is interested in serving on the EASGSU executive team to run for a position. Candidates will make a short speech outlining why they wish to serve on the executive committee, which will be followed by a vote. Get involved and make your voice heard!
EASGSU Executive Positions and Responsibilities
| President |
The president is responsible for organizing meetings of both the EASGSU executive and the wider graduate student body. They will implement any decisions or programs that are the result of these meetings, and work closely with the department and EASGSU membership to promote student welfare and build an intellectually and socially engaging environment on campus. |
Leslie Shi | leslie.shi@mail.utoronto.ca |
| Vice President |
The Vice-President will assist the president with their administrative duties, often being delegated specific tasks or projects to complete, and generally works to implement the mandate of the EASGSU. |
Zerui Li | zeruili.li@mail.utoronto.ca |
| Treasurer |
The treasurer is responsible for keeping clear and accurate financial records for the EASGSU. They also help plan the EASGSU’s annual budget and authorize transactions. |
Allison Feng | allisonrs.feng@mail.utoronto.ca |
|
UTGSU Liaison |
The UTGSU Liaison represents the EASGSU at the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU), attending meetings and participating in discussions on behalf of the EAS graduate student body. They are responsible for communicating relevant updates, advocating departmental interests, and facilitating collaboration between EASGSU and broader university initiatives. | Ronan Keohane | ronan.keohane@mail.utoronto.ca |
|
Mentorship Program Coordinator |
The mentorship coordinator is responsible for overseeing the EASGSU mentorship program by matching students in the incoming cohort to participating upper year students. They will also organize events in the first weeks of September to help welcome new graduate students to the department and the city. |
Qidi | qidi.lin@mail.utoronto.ca |
|
Secretary |
The Secretary is responsible for recording and archiving minutes from executive and general meetings. They manage and organize important documents related to student affairs and EASGSU activities. The Secretary also assists the President and Vice President with ongoing projects, administrative paperwork, and coordination efforts. |
Jenny Wang | jennyyimeng.wang@mail.utoronto.ca |
|
Event Coordinator |
The Event Coordinator plans, organizes, and executes events for the EAS graduate student community, including academic, cultural, and social gatherings. They work to foster community engagement, support student well-being, and strengthen connections among students and between the department and broader campus life. | Yingyu Huang | yingyu.huang@mail.utoronto.ca |
The EASGSU executive works collectively to pursue the mandate outlined above and work for the general benefit of the grad student community at EAS. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to bring something to the attention of the executive but are unable to attend our monthly meeting, please find the relevant contact information below. Students who are interested in serving on the executive committee should consult the brief outline of roles and responsibilities when deciding which position is right for them.
Ongoing Interview Projects
We are currently seeking interviewees! If you’re interested, please contact Leslie via email, and kindly CC Zerui Li and Jenny Wang.
Internal Interviews: EAS Graduate Student Research Spotlight
Are you an EAS graduate student with research or recent findings you’d like to share? We invite you to record a short 2–5-minute video introducing your work. This is a great opportunity to showcase your thinking and research to a broader intellectual community interested in East Asian culture and history. You are encouraged to connect your work to contemporary issues.
E.g.: Drawing parallels between the information explosion of the Ming dynasty and today’s digital overload in the age of the internet and academic publishing.
External Interviews: Liberal Arts Alumni Career Series
If you are a graduate from a liberal arts background and have entered the workforce, we would love to hear your story. No matter what field you are in, your insights and experiences can inspire current students. Share your journey and how your academic background shaped your career path.
Our Commitment
Beyond our commitment to serve the EAS graduate student community, the EASGSU is also committed to student equity on campus and recognizes the need to include and amplify the voices of underprivileged, underrepresented, and otherwise racialized student and community groups. The EASGSU fully endorses the statement on the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) drafted in the summer of 2020 by faculty at EAS. Therefore, the EASGSU considers the pursuit of social justice both on and off campus to be a fundamental part of its wider mandate.
