Ma Vang

Ma Vang is an Assistant Professor of Critical Race & Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Merced. They hold a Ph.D. (2012) and M.A. (2007) from the University of California, San Diego, and a B.S. (2005) from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon.

Dr. Vang’s research focuses on Southeast Asian and Asian American histories, with particular expertise in Hmong American Studies, U.S. history, and critical refugee studies. Their work interrogates intersections of race, gender, sexuality, war, and transnationalism, challenging dominant narratives of U.S. imperialism and refugee policy. Key themes include refugee epistemologies, state violence, and decolonial methodologies.

Recent scholarship includes critiques of humanitarianism, recentering Hmong feminist perspectives, and analyzing post-George Floyd racial solidarity movements. Their writing spans academic articles, book chapters, and critical dialogues between Hmong and Asian American studies frameworks. Office location: COB-2 Room 325.