John S.W. Park

John S.W. Park is a Professor of Asian American Studies and affiliated faculty in Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He holds a Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy from UC Berkeley (2000), M.P.P. from Harvard’s Kennedy School (1993), and B.A. from UC Berkeley (1991). His research focuses on immigration law, race theory, and political theory, with notable publications including Immigration Law and Society (2018) and Illegal Migrations and the Huckleberry Finn Problem (2013). He has served as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education (2007–2011), Associate Director of the UC Center for New Racial Studies (2011–present), and Chair of Asian American Studies (2013–2016). Awards include the Margaret T. Getman Service Award (2011) and the Mellon Sawyer Seminar Award (2021–2022). His courses integrate philosophy, law, and public policy, and he has taught at Yonsei International Summer School in Seoul since 2016. He is also a visiting scholar at Berkeley Law School (2022–2023).

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, UC Berkeley, 2000
  • M.P.P., Harvard Kennedy School, 1993
  • B.A., Rhetoric, UC Berkeley, 1991 (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)

Research Interests: Immigration law and policy, race theory, Anglo-American legal theory, U.S. migration history, and interdisciplinary sociolegal studies. Current projects include studies on the 1965 Immigration Act and youth unlawful status awareness.

Grants/Awards:

• Outstanding Academic Title (2014) for Illegal Migrations
• Mellon Sawyer Seminar Award (2021–2022)
• Visiting Scholarships: Yonsei University (annual), Berkeley Law School (2022–2023)

Teaching and Advising: Known for rigorous interdisciplinary courses like Asian American Legal History and Colonialism and Migration. Advised numerous students and received UCSB’s top student service award. Active in Phi Beta Kappa and academic senate committees.

Labs/Teams: Co-director of the UC Center for New Racial Studies, collaborates with scholars on migration studies and race theory initiatives.