Helen Jun

Helen Jun is an Associate Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Black Studies and English at the University of Illinois Chicago's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on comparative analyses of race and culture in the context of U.S. empire, with specializations in Asian American and African American literature and history. She examines citizenship, nationalism, U.S. imperialism in Asia, globalization, and the prison industrial complex. Contact: junhelen@uic.edu.

Education:

• PhD in Literature, University of California, San Diego (2003)
• BA in Ethnic Studies and English, University of California, Berkeley (1993)

Research Interests:

Dr. Jun's work bridges literary analysis with critical race theory, exploring how Asian Americans and African Americans have been racially defined in relation to each other. Her recent book critiques structural inequities tied to U.S. imperial policies. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding systemic oppression.

Professional Engagement:

As Associate Head, she collaborates on curricular development and departmental leadership. Her scholarship has contributed to dialogues on decolonizing academia and intersectional activism.