Wei Li, who coined the term term 'ethnoburb' to describe a new form of contemporary suburban Asian settlements, will be the guest speaker at Cal State San Bernardino on National Geography Awareness Day, Thursday, Nov. 17.
Li will speak on “Asian American Banks: From Anti-Discrimination to Transnationalization” from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the university’s Lower Commons Pine Room. The talk is free and open to the public; parking at the university is $6.
Later in the day, at 5:30 p.m., Li will be the guest speaker at CSUSB Gamma Lambda chapter of Phi Beta Delta’s Fall Banquet, which will take place in the Lower Commons Panorama Room. Her talk will focus on “Highly-skilled International Migration and Circulation: Evidence from the BRIC Countries.”
Cost of the banquet is $25 for university administrators, faculty and staff, and free to students. Membership in Phi Beta Delta is not required. Advance reservations are required for the banquet, and may be made by contacting Eduardo Garcia Lima at EGarciaL@csusb.edu by today, Tuesday, Nov. 15.
“Both Dr. Li talks will illuminate and enlighten us on a very important topic socio-economic issues on highly skilled migration and circulation from Brazil Russia, India and China (BRIC countries) and Asian American banks,” said Rajrani Kalra, associate professor of geography and environmental studies at CSUSB, and president of the Gamma Lambda Chapter (CSUSB Phi Beta Delta), and president, Phi Beta Delta.
Li received her bachelor and master degrees in Beijing, China, and her Ph.D. in geography at the University of Southern California in 1997. She is currently a professor at the Asian Pacific American Studies/School of Social Transformation, and School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at the Arizona State University, and is and affiliated with Center for Asian Research.
Her areas of research are urban ethnicity and ethnic geography, highly skilled international migration and transnational connections, financial sector and minority community development, focusing on the Chinese and other Asian groups in the Pacific Rim.
Li is the author of “Ethnoburb: The New Ethnic Community in Urban America” (2009; paperback 2012), The 2009 Book Award in Social Sciences, Association for Asian American Studies; editor of “From Urban Enclave to Ethnic Suburb: New Asian Communities in Pacific Rim Countries” (2006; both from University of Hawaii Press); co-editor of “Landscape of Ethnic Economy” (2006; Rowman and Littlefield); “Immigrant Geographies of North American Cities (2012; Oxford University Press); and “The Housing and Economic Experiences of Immigrants in North American Cities” (2015; University of Toronto Press); and co-editor of two journal theme issues. She has also published other 123 journal articles, book chapters, and other academic or educational pieces, including those in journals such as Annals of Association of American Geographers; Environment and Planning A; GeoForum; Geographic Review; Urban Studies; Urban Geography; Social Science Research, and Journal of Asian American Studies.
The morning event is part of the CSUSB Department of Geography and Environmental Studies’ celebration of National Geography Awareness Day, part of National Geography Awareness Week, created by the National Geographic Society.
“Too many young Americans are unable to make effective decisions, understand geo-spatial issues, or even recognize their impacts as global citizens,” the society says on its website. “National Geographic created Geography Awareness Week to raise awareness to this dangerous deficiency in American education and excite people about geography as both a discipline and as a part of everyday life.”
Li’s morning lecture is sponsored by the CSUSB Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Association of American Geographers/Visiting Geographical Scientist Program, Lambda Chi, Gamma Theta Upsilon, Student Association of Geography and Environmental Studies (SAGES) and Academic and International Programs.
The evening Phi Beta Delta banquet is sponsored by Gamma Lambda Chapter (Phi Beta Delta), American Association of Geographers, Lambda Chi (Gamma Theta Upsilon), the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, and Academic and International Programs.