Seri I. Luangphinith

Seri I. Luangphinith is a Professor of English at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in Asian film and television, with a focus on East Asian Cinema and Postcolonial Literature and Theory. Her research explores cultural representation, diasporic identities, and socio-political contexts in visual media. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Oregon (specializing in Postcolonial Literature and Theory), an MA in English from the University of Oregon, and a BA in Political Science and English from UH Mānoa.

Her teaching includes advanced film studies courses, such as ENG 370, which examines East Asian films and television dramas. In Spring 2016, her class launched a student-driven research website analyzing films from Japan, China, and South Korea, emphasizing themes like national branding, cultural identity, and gender roles. She has received the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2004).

Her work bridges academic and creative spheres, integrating cultural critique with pedagogy. She advises students on interdisciplinary projects and maintains a lab focused on East Asian visual media analysis. Her research highlights the intersection of postcolonial theory and contemporary film, particularly in Pacific Islander and Korean diasporic contexts.