Peter Kiang

Dr. Peter Nien-chu Kiang is a Professor and Director of the Asian American Studies Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he has taught since 1987. He has received the university’s highest honors—Chancellor’s Awards for Distinguished Teaching (2007), Service (2010), and Scholarship (2024)—in all three categories of faculty achievement.

• EdD in Teaching, Curriculum & Learning Environments from Harvard University
• EdM in Administration, Planning & Social Policy from Harvard University
• BA in Visual & Environmental Studies and Geological Sciences from Harvard University

Kiang’s research and teaching focus on Education and Asian Americans, Ethnic Studies Curriculum, and Program Development in K-12 and higher education. His work also addresses minority and immigrant/refugee youth development, Asian American veterans, and AANAPISI institutions. He has pioneered pedagogical frameworks for refugees, veterans, and underserved communities.

His publications span 2020–2006, addressing themes like the Japanese American redress movement, AANAPISI collaborations, refugee pedagogies, and transnational politics. Articles frequently intersect education, social justice, and community engagement, with recurring attention to urban contexts and policy implications.

Scientific awards include:

• Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (2007)
• Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Service (2010)
• Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship (2024)
• Distinguished Scholar Award from AERA (2013)
• Lifetime Achievement Award from National Association for Asian American Studies (2014)

Kiang has secured $9.1M in federal grants, including five five-year AANAPISI grants from the US Department of Education (2010–2024). He co-chaired the Massachusetts Advisory Committee for the US Commission on Civil Rights and led the Chinese Historical Society of New England, highlighting his commitment to community-university partnerships and historical preservation.