Timothy K. August

Timothy K. August is an Associate Professor of English at Stony Brook University, specializing in critical refugee studies, diasporic Vietnamese literature, postcolonial criticism, and theories of food and eating. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Minnesota (2014). His research bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, focusing on how aesthetics shape refugee narratives and diasporic identities. Key works include *The Refugee Aesthetic: Reimagining Southeast Asian America* (2021), which explores refugee aesthetics in literature, and co-editing a special issue of the *Canadian Review of American Studies* on 'Vietnam, War, and the Global Imagination.'

Teaching spans Asian American Literature, World Literature, and Television Studies. Courses like 'Refugee Literature & Film' and 'Cultural Studies' reflect his interdisciplinary approach. His publications analyze texts such as Monique Truong's *The Book of Salt* and Ocean Vuong's works, emphasizing global and transnational frameworks.

Research interests include food studies, where he critiques the intersections of culinary practices with race, authenticity, and marketability. His work interrogates how diasporic communities use literature and media to negotiate identity and resist marginalization.