Jane Hong

Jane Hong is an Associate Professor of History at Occidental College, specializing in U.S. immigration history, transnationalism, and the intersection of race, religion, and politics. Her research bridges Asian American studies, religious history, and political polarization, with a focus on post-WWII U.S.-Asia relations. She is the author of Opening the Gates to Asia (2019) and a forthcoming book on Asian immigrant influence on U.S. evangelicalism.

Education

• B.A., Yale University
• A.M., Brown University
• A.M., Harvard University
• Ph.D., Harvard University

Hong's research explores transnational movements against Asian exclusion laws, linking Black civil rights and Asian decolonization, as well as the role of post-1965 Asian immigrants in reshaping U.S. evangelical institutions and politics. Her current work examines conservatism among Asian American and Latina/o/x communities in Orange County, California.

Publications span topics including racial violence, hate crimes during the pandemic, the Asian American Movement, and evangelical racial reckoning. Her work has been supported by grants from the UCLA Institute for American Cultures, the Louisville Institute, and the John Randolph Haynes Foundation.

Scientific Awards

• Qualey Memorial Award (2017-2018)

Hong actively engages public history through K-12 teacher seminars, media commentary (e.g., The Takeaway, Brookings Institution), and op-eds in The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. She serves on editorial boards for the Journal of American History and the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative.