Through the generosity of UCLA alumna, the late Chiyoko Doris Hoshide, Class of 1934, an endowment was established to​ ​annually recognize a UCLA professor for outstanding teaching in Asian American Studies:  The Chiyoko Doris and Toshio Hoshide Distinguished Teaching Prize in Asian American Studies.  A monetary award of $1000 will accompany the prize.

UCLA students and faculty may nominate eligible faculty from the Asian American Studies​ ​Center’s Faculty Advisory Committee and the Asian American Studies Department (AASD). The award eligibility criteria has also been revised and lecturers in the AASD can also be nominated for the award.

Please note that previous winners over the past ten years and emeritus professors are not eligible. Recipients who received the award prior to the 2013-14 academic year can be considered for the 2023-24 Award. See the faculty listing at: www.aasc.ucla.edu/fac

Required Materials (as attachments in WORD files)
1.  Brief statement of support (500 words or less)
2. Two (2) Letters from students. If nomination is submitted by a student, then only one (1) additional letter is required.
Optional: Letters of support from Faculty colleagues can also be submitted as part of the nomination.

Deadline: Friday, May 31, 2024

                                                       CALL FOR FACULTY NOMINATIONS

The UCLA Asian American Studies Center invites faculty nominations for the 2023-2024 Don T. Nakanishi Award for Outstanding Engaged Scholarship.

Through the generosity of UCLA faculty, students, staff, and alumni as well as community leaders, an endowment was established that honors the late Professor Emeritus Don T. Nakanishi, who served on the UCLA faculty for thirty-five years and who ably directed the Asian American Studies Center (1990-2010). Among his invaluable contributions to Asian American Studies, Professor Nakanishi co-founded two, national publications: Amerasia Journal (1971) and AAPI Nexus Journal: Asian American and Pacific Islander Policy, Practice, and Community (2003). Professor Nakanishi published widely in the areas of Asian American politics and education, mentored thousands of students, and provided professional and community-based service locally, nationally, and internationally.

Professor Nakanishi is widely recognized for developing the fields of Asian American political and educational research. His groundbreaking work transformed ethnic and intellectual diversity on American campuses. A former national president of the Association of Asian American Studies, Professor Nakanishi’s career also redefined the relationship between scholarship and community service at UCLA, serving as a beacon for challenging dubious academic customs.  

The 2023-2024 Nakanishi Award, consisting of a $5,000 cash prize, acknowledges a deserving member of the UCLA faculty for his or her outstanding community-based research, scholarship, teaching, and/or educational service (e.g. applying research to underserved populations, participating in service-learning, building bridges from campus to community; serving in professional, Academic Senate, departmental, or editorial posts or committees) to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The award rotates annually between faculty and students. The student awards will be given during the 2024-2025 academic year.


Eligibility: Any UCLA faculty with at least one year of employment or an appointment by May 1, 2024 may be nominated for the 2023-2024 award. Please note that the previous winners [Keith Camacho, Paul M. Ong, Renee Tajima-Peña, Lucy Mae San Pablo Burns, Ninez Ponce, and Rob Teranishi] and emeritus professors are not eligible.

The award is open to faculty from all departments at UCLA who have demonstrated Professor Don Nakanishi's commitment for developing and strengthening the fields of Asian American Studies, Pacific Islander Studies, education and service to local and national Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Nominations are due by Monday, June 3, 2024.