Wayne Tan

Dr. Wayne Tan is an Associate Professor of History at Hope College, where he has taught since July 2016. His courses span world history, Japanese history, East Asian cultural history, Russian history, disability history/studies, pandemics and social history, and the history of science and medicine. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in the medical humanities, to explore intersections between history and contemporary societal issues.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Japanese History, Harvard University (2015)
• B.A. (summa cum laude) in Linguistics modified with Russian, Dartmouth College (2006)

Dr. Tan’s research focuses on using disability as a lens to analyze social and material aspects of everyday life in premodern and modern societies. His work bridges historical studies with broader humanities discourse, examining topics like pandemics, medical thought, and cultural identity. His first book investigates blindness in early modern Japan (1600–1868), revealing insights into disability experiences and historical perceptions.

Dr. Tan’s publications, including his award-winning book and forthcoming works, explore Japanese and East Asian history from the 17th century to the present. Key themes include disability in modern East Asia, acupuncture, and anatomy in East Asian medical thought. His research has been presented at major conferences such as the Association for Asian Studies and the American Historical Association.

Scientific Awards & Grants:

• Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2016)
• Reischauer Institute Dissertation Completion Grant (2014–2015)
• Kokugakuin University Fellowship (2012–2013)
• Harvard Teaching Distinction Certificate

Before joining Hope College, Dr. Tan was a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College. He encourages students to analyze texts, images, and media critically, fostering cross-cultural connections in his courses.