David Yoo

David Yoo is Professor and Vice Provost at UCLA's Department of History within the College of Social Sciences. A social historian specializing in Asian American experiences, his work examines the intersection of religion, race, and migration in shaping cultural identities.

Education:

• Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A. from Yale University
• M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary
• B.A. magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College

His research focuses on three interconnected domains: the historical development of Asian American communities, religious adaptations within immigrant populations, and the construction of racial identities in the United States. This interdisciplinary approach bridges ethnic studies, religious history, and cultural anthropology.

Professor Yoo has authored or edited eight scholarly books examining how religious institutions facilitated community formation among Korean and Japanese immigrants. His publications consistently explore themes of cultural retention, generational change, and the negotiation of identity in diaspora contexts.

Awards & Honors:

• Senior Fulbright Scholar (Korea University)
• American Council on Education Fellowship
• Huntington Library Research Fellowship
• Hoshide Distinguished Teaching Prize
• Principal Investigator for National Park Service grant

He serves as series editor for University of Hawaii Press and University of Illinois Press, previously editing Amerasia Journal. His community engagement includes board membership with the Korean American Scholarship Foundation.