Six Students Present at ASIANetwork Conference

Students present original research on culture, identity, and media at a national East Asian studies conference in Naperville, Illinois.

Academic Excellence
Apr 7, 2026
Ashleigh Cannon ‘26— “Examining Bias in the Taiwanese English Education System”
Ashleigh Cannon ‘26

Six Grinnell College students studying Chinese, Japanese, and East Asian Studies shared their research on a national stage this spring, marking a record-setting year for student participation at the annual conference hosted by ASIANetwork. The conference, held March 27–29 in Naperville, brought together undergraduate scholars from across the country to present original research focused on Asia and Asian diasporas.

Supported by funding from the Dean’s Office, the six students presented poster projects that reflect the depth and interdisciplinary nature of East Asian studies at Grinnell:

  • Ashleigh Cannon ‘26— “Examining Bias in the Taiwanese English Education System” (advised by Professor Eiren Shea)

  • Clara Chaput ‘26— “Kinship Across Cultures: Perspectives on Family Formation and Its Impact on Cultural Identity in the Chinese American Adoptee Community” (advised by Professors Eiren Shea and Tess Kulstad-Gonzalez) 

Clara Chaput ‘26
Clara Chaput ‘26
  • Dorothea Qin ‘26— “Emptiness in Practice: Buddhism in Contemporary East Asian Art” (advised by Professor Eiren Shea)

  • shabab m. kabir ‘26, Zoe Kirn ‘26, and Xinmeng Mi ‘28— “Globalizing Danmei: Digital Labor and Platform Circulation in Mo Xiang Tong Xiu Fandoms” (advised by Professor Jin Feng) 

Their participation highlights the College’s commitment to supporting undergraduate research and global learning opportunities. By engaging with peers and scholars from other institutions, these students contributed to ongoing conversations about culture, identity, media, and religion across East Asia and its diasporas.

Congratulations to these students for their outstanding work and for representing Grinnell College at this year’s conference. 

shabab m. kabir ‘26, Zoe Kirn ‘26, and Xinmeng Mi ‘28
shabab m. kabir ‘26, Zoe Kirn ‘26, and Xinmeng Mi ‘28

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