Angie Ngoc Tran

Angie Ngoc Tran is a Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Global Studies at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), where she has taught for 27 years. Her research focuses on transnational labor migration, labor rights, and social justice in Vietnam, Malaysia, the U.S., and Mexico. She holds a doctorate in political economy from the University of Southern California and a master’s in developmental economics. Her work integrates critical perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), labor-management-state relations, and ethnic dissent among migrant workers.

Dr. Tran’s research highlights the vulnerabilities of Vietnamese and Mexican migrant workers, particularly women in domestic roles in Saudi Arabia and agricultural guestworkers in California. A recent Russell Sage Foundation grant supported her co-authored study on H-2A Mexican farmworkers, examining their motivations, remittance use, and risks in California. She actively advocates for social justice through local movements, including the Monterey County’s Coalition for Asian Justice and the 2024 CSU strike as a strike captain.

Her publications include the 2022 book Ethnic Dissent and Empowerment: Economic Migration between Vietnam and Malaysia, analyzing ethnic groups’ labor experiences. She teaches courses on global economics, labor history, and critical CSR. Despite her extensive academic contributions, no formal awards are listed, though her grants and activism underscore her impact.