Ayanna Yonemura
Ayanna is currently writing her second book, Women, Wars and Public Policies: from Hostile Shores to Storming Seas (forthcoming from Routledge in 2022). A fourth generation Californian who has worked in Europe, Africa, and Asia, Ayanna’s research examines race, public policy and human rights from a global and feminist perspective. Ayanna is past recipient of two Fulbright Fellowships and currently lives in Sacramento where she serves on the Board of Directors of My Sister's House.
Biography
My earliest reflections about racism, nationalism and policy were during the early 1990s when Germany suffered from historic violence including multiple attacks on housing for people seeking asylum. During those years, I researched and wrote an undergraduate thesis on Germany’s political asylum policy. The racist nationalism of those years complicated the plights of people seeking refuge in a country where neither the policies nor much of the populous were welcoming.Education
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Ph.D., Urban Planning, University of California Los Angeles
M.A., African Studies, University of California Los Angeles
B.A., honors, Independent Studies, UC Santa Cruz
Areas of Research / Professional Expertise
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My writing looks at race, public policy and urban planning from feminist and international perspectives. I am working on my second book, Women, Wars and Public Policies. As with my first book, I aim to shed light on migration and security debates. Women, Wars and Public Policies compares experiences of Japanese American women during WWII with those of women forced away from their homes during the so-called war on terror.
Personal Interests
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My ideas of fun include running along the river with my puppy, Pete, and reading novels.
I'm currently obsessed with the crime drama series, Endeavor, and I've watched The Tunnel and Downton Abbey around thirty-two times each. Edith is the best dressed, but I wouldn't invite her or Mary over for dinner.
Books
Articles
"Teaching and Living Totalitarianism in a World Heritage Site"
Published: Jul 08, 2017 by Peace and Change: A Journal of Peace Research, Blog
Authors: Ayanna Yonemura
Subjects:
Built Environment, History, Museum and Heritage Studies , Area Studies, Urban Planning, Urban Studies
When UNESCO designated Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, a World Heritage Site in 2017, I took the opportunity to reflect on my time as a Fulbrighter in this beautiful city. I taught about totalitarianism in my Modern World History class at the University of Asmara while living under the totalitarian regime which still rules Eritrea. From left to right in the photo: An Eritrean marine biologists, name unknown; author; Dr. Gordon Sato
Book Review of The Politics of Fieldwork: Research in an American Concentration Camp
Published: Jun 08, 2000 by Journal of Asian American Studies
Authors: Ayanna Yonemura
Subjects:
History, Sociology & Social Policy, Anthropology - Soc Sci
This is a book review of Lane Hirabayashi's The Politics of Fieldwork: Research in an American Concentration Camp.
News
Speaking at OCA-GLA's Event on "Asian Pacific Americans for Black Lives," Tuesday, Aug 25, 6 pm
By: Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
OCA Asian Pacific American Advoacates of Greater Los Angeles is hosting a discussion on "Asian Pacific Americans for Black Lives."
Upcoming Speaker Engagement: UCLA, May 5, 2019 (time & room tba)
By: Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
The event is co-sponsored by the Urban Planning and Asian American Studies Departments.
Upcoming “African Americans & Asian Americans” course at UC Davis
By: Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
Subjects: History, Sociology, Sociology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Urban Studies
This fall, I will be teaching “African Americans & Asian Americans” again at UC Davis. The course was wonderfully last winter. It was a small, seminar style class with students, from departments all over campus, who were very interested in the topic.
New Role, 2019-2020
By: Ayanna Yonemura, Ph.D.
This fall, I look forward to joining the University of California Davis' Women of Color/Non-Binary People of Color Scholars Inclusion Project as Visiting Faculty Fellow.