Keith L Camacho

Keith L Camacho is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the Asia Pacific Center. His work bridges anthropology, history, and literary studies with a regional focus on the Pacific Islands.

His research centers on the cultural and historical politics of the Chamorro people, American and Japanese colonialisms, and militarisms in the Pacific. Currently, he is investigating Samoan youth violence and justice across transnational contexts, particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand and the United States.

From 2014 to 2018, Professor Camacho served as Senior Editor of Amerasia Journal, contributing significantly to the field of Asian American and Pacific Islander studies. His interdisciplinary scholarship reflects deep engagement with decolonial theory, indigenous epistemologies, and the legacies of empire.

He received his academic training at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and has held research appointments at the Australian National University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Sydney.

Professor Camacho is actively involved in academic leadership and research through UCLA's Asia Pacific Center, where he contributes to programs on Central Asia, Taiwan Studies, and global Chinese philanthropy.