Mae Ngai

Mae Ngai is the Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies and Professor of History in Columbia University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, teaching courses on immigration, colonization, and transnational migration from her office in Fayerweather Hall.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in History, Columbia University (1998, with distinction)
• M.A. in History, Columbia University (1993)
• B.A., SUNY Empire State (1992)

Ngai's research pioneers the intersection of U.S. legal history, immigration policy, and Asian American identity, examining how race, citizenship, and nationalism shape American society. Her scholarship reveals systemic patterns in immigration enforcement and diaspora formation through meticulous archival work, influencing both academic discourse and public understanding of contemporary issues.

Her 2017-2021 op-eds in major publications demonstrate consistent engagement with urgent socio-political issues, connecting historical analysis to modern debates about anti-Asian racism, family definitions in immigration law, and border enforcement policies. These writings exemplify her commitment to translating complex historical research into accessible public commentary during periods of heightened political tension.

Ngai's scholarly impact is evidenced by:

• Six major book awards for Impossible Subjects including the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize
• Fellowships from Guggenheim Foundation (2009), Library of Congress (2017), and Russell Sage Foundation (2020)
• Residencies at Princeton University, Huntington Library, and Woodrow Wilson Center

She mentors graduate students through PhD historiography seminars while leading research initiatives through Columbia's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race. Her editorial roles for International Labor and Working Class History and Journal of American Ethnic History further extend her influence across interdisciplinary scholarship.

Ngai currently advances her research trajectory through Nation of Immigrants: A Short History of an Idea, contracted with Princeton University Press, which promises to reframe foundational narratives about American identity through historical lens.