A. Naomi Paik

A. Naomi Paik is an Associate Professor in Global Asian Studies and Criminology, Law, and Justice at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She serves as co-chair of the Radical History Review editorial collective and co-edits Public Books' 'Borderlands' section. Her work focuses on US immigration policies, carceral systems, and abolitionist frameworks, with notable publications like Bans, Walls, Raids, Sanctuary (2020) and Rightlessness (2016), the latter winning the AAAS Best Book in History Award (2018).

Paik earned a PhD in American Studies from Yale University (2009), with specializations in empire studies, feminist theory, and Asian American cultural history. Her research integrates historical analysis with contemporary activism, examining issues like Guantánamo detention, sanctuary movements, and anti-police abolition. She actively participates in grassroots initiatives including the Migration Scholars Collaborative and Cops Off Campus Coalition.

Her scholarship bridges academic rigor with public engagement, featuring opinion pieces in venues like The Guardian and collaborative journal special issues addressing militarism, sanctuary histories, and policing. Awards include the Franklin Prize runner-up (2017) and recognition for interdisciplinary contributions to American Studies.