About
Ivan Small is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Houston’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. His research focuses on trans-Pacific mobility, remittance economies, and Southeast Asian diasporas, with emphasis on Vietnam and the Vietnamese American community. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Cornell University and has been affiliated with institutions like the Yusof Ishak Institute and the Smithsonian. His work bridges sociocultural anthropology with economic analysis, examining how capital transformations, transportation systems, and financial technologies shape transnational communities.
Dr. Small’s research explores the interplay between migration, consumption, and technology. He has conducted fieldwork in Vietnam and the U.S., analyzing remittance flows, automobility trends, and ethno-suburban development in cities like Houston. His recent projects investigate ASEAN trade agreements’ impact on transportation markets and Vietnamese-American community formations. He serves on the executive board of the War Legacies Project and actively participates in professional organizations such as the American Anthropological Association.
- Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology, Cornell University
- Research Interests: Transnational migration, financial inclusion, automobility, diaspora studies, urban development
His publications include the award-winning monograph *Currencies of Imagination* (Cornell 2019) and co-edited volumes such as *Money at the Margins* (Berghahn 2018). His articles appear in journals like *Journal of Cultural Economy* and *TRaNS: Trans-Regional Studies of Southeast Asia*. He is currently on leave for 2024-2025.
