Catherine Ceniza Choy
Professor
Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies
Adoption, Asian American History, Gender, Migration, Nursing, Philippine and Filipino American Studies
Ph.D., History, University of California, Los Angeles, June 1998
M.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1993
B.A., History, cum laude, Pomona College, Claremont, 1991
Office:
526 Social Sciences Building
Office Hours in Spring 2023: By Appointment on Thursdays, 2:30-4:30pm
Bio & Research Interests
Catherine Ceniza Choy is an award-winning Asian American historian and professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of Asian American Histories of the United States (2022) published by Beacon Press in their ReVisioning History book series. The book features the themes of violence, erasure, and resistance in a nearly 200 year history of Asian migration, labor, and community formation in the US. It was awarded a 2022 Kirkus Star from Kirkus Reviews for books of exceptional merit; named a Best of 2022 Nonfiction Book by Kirkus Reviews and Ms. Magazine; selected for the 2022 Non-Obvious Book Awards Longlist; and featured in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s 2023 National Day of Racial Healing book list and the Texas Library Association’s 2023 Texas Topaz Reading List.
Choy’s first book, Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History (2003), explored how and why the Philippines became the leading exporter of professional nurses to the United States. Empire of Care received the 2003 American Journal of Nursing History and Public Policy Book Award and the 2005 Association for Asian American Studies History Book Award. In 2023, Choy is the recipient of the Agnes Dillon Randolph Award. This award recognizes her outstanding scholarship documenting the experiences of Filipino nurses in U.S. history and the importance of that history for understanding ongoing issues in health care, including the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Filipino nurses. Her second book, Global Families: A History of Asian International Adoption in America (2013), unearthed the little-known historical origins of Asian international adoption in the United States beginning with the post-World War II presence of the U.S. military in Asia. Choy also co-edited the anthology, Gendering the Trans-Pacific World (2017), with Judy Tzu-Chun Wu.
An engaged public scholar, Choy has been interviewed and had her research cited in many media outlets, including ABC 20/20, The Atlantic, CNN, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, New York Times, ProPublica, San Francisco Chronicle, and Vox, on topics such as anti-Asian, coronavirus-related hate and violence, the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on Filipino nurses in the United States, and racism and misogyny in the March 16, 2021 Atlanta spa shootings.
Choy is Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice in UC Berkeley’s Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS). She is a former Department Chair of Ethnic Studies (2012-2015, 2018-2019) and a former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies Division (2019-2021). Choy received her Ph.D. in History from UCLA and her B.A. in History from Pomona College. The daughter of Filipino immigrants, she was born and raised in New York City. She lives in Berkeley with her husband Greg Choy.
Courses Taught
ASAMST 20A: Introduction to Asian American History
ASAMST 24: Asian American History in American Musicals
ASAMST 124: Filipino American History
ASAMST 190: Asian American History in the Age of COVID-19
ETH STD 12: Contemporary Issues in Ethnic Studies: “Pandemics”
ETH STD C135A: Migration in the Contemporary World
ETH GRP 201: History and Narrativity
ETH GRP 250: Research Seminar on Asian American History
ETH GRP 250: Research Seminar on Gender and the Trans-Pacific World
Books
Recent Essays
“The COVID Era is the Latest Episode of Medical Scapegoating of Asian Immigrants,” History News Network, August 7, 2022.
“When the Reporter Asks You Why There Are So Many Filipino Nurses in the U.S.,” in AAWW’s (Asian American Writers’ Workshop) magazine, The Margins, May 17, 2021.
“In This Country,” in Sparked: George Floyd, Racism, and the Progressive Illusion, eds. Walter R. Jacobs, Wendy Thompson Taiwo, and Amy August (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, May 2021), 33-36. Originally published in The Society Pages, June 17, 2020, as part of the special essay series, “Wonderful/Wretched Memories of Racial Dynamics in the Twin Cities, Minnesota,” and reprinted in The Berkeley Blog as “Brushes with racism in Minnesota and why Black lives matter,” June 24, 2020.
News
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, “National Day of Racial Healing,” January 17, 2023, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this book list to support National Day of Racial Healing and provide resources within the Pittsburgh community and beyond.
NBC News, “Why Michelle Yeoh’s ‘shut up’ at the Golden Globes was profound for Asian women,” by Kimmy Yam, January 11, 2023, interviewed and quoted in news story.
Texas Library Association, “2023 Texas Topaz Reading List Announced,” January 10, 2023, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Berkeleyside, “14 books with Berkeley ties to read in the new year,” by Joanne Furio, December 29, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Ms. Magazine, “2022 ‘Best of the Rest’: Our Favorite Books of the Year!,” by Karla J. Strand, December 24, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Learning Materials Centering An Asian American Experience by Ellie Yang Camp, “Book Club Discussion Questions: Asian American Histories of the United States by Catherine Ceniza Choy,” December 8, 2022.
Yu and Me Books, “Gift Guide 2022,” December 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this gift guide for future leaders.
Truthout, “Knowledge of Asian American Histories Strengthens Fight Against Racist Violence: Scholar Catherine Ceniza Choy discusses the histories — and futures — of Asian Americans,” November 28, 2022, interviewed by writer Jon Letman.
Kirkus Reviews, “Best of 2022: Our Favorite Nonfiction,” by Eric Liebetrau, November 20, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Non-Obvious Book Awards, “The 2022 Non-Obvious Book Award Winners,” November 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES in the 2022 Longlist.
Seattle Book Review, “Asian American Histories of the United States (REVISIONING HISTORY),” November 2022, book reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali.
Very Asian Foundation, “A chat with author, scholar Dr. Catherine Ceniza Choy on Filipino American Heritage Month,” October 31, 2022.
KPFA APEX Express, “Cathy Ceniza Choy,” October 27, 2022, interviewed by host Mike Lee from August 9, 2022 ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES book release celebration at The Back Room in Berkeley, CA.
Bob on Books, “Review: Asian American Histories of the United States,” October 4, 2022, book reviewed in Bob on Books blog.
ABC7 News Bay Area, “Getting Answers: Asian American Histories of the United States,” September 21, 2022, interviewed by host Julian Glover.
KPFA Radio Letters & Politics, “The Radical History of Asian Americans,” September 14, 2022, interviewed by host Mitch Jeserich.
Let’s Grab Coffee with SunAh, “Asian American Histories of the United States with Dr. Catherine Ceniza Choy,” September 12, 2022, interviewed by host SunAh.
San Francisco Chronicle, “Bay Area author brings AAPI histories out of the shadows in eye-opening new book,” September 11, 2022, interviewed by writer Leland Cheuk.
Center for Asian American Media Short Takes, “Asian American Histories of the United States, By Catherine Ceniza Choy,” September 6, 2022, book reviewed by madeleinefernando.
East West ezine, “Asian American Histories of the United States: ‘Come, meet us in our wounds.‘” August 30, 2022, book reviewed by Ravi Chandra.
Kirkus Reviews, “Where Are the Asian Americans in American History?,” August 9, 2022, interviewed by writer Mathangi Subramanian.
KPFA, “Catherine Choy: Asian American Histories of the United States,” August 9, 2022, book release celebration hosted by Miko Lee at The Back Room in Berkeley, CA.
KQED Forum, “Catherine Ceniza Choy on The Multiplicity of Asian American Histories,” August 8, 2022, interviewed by host Mina Kim.
KPFA Upfront,”Asian American Histories of the United States,” August 8, 2022, interviewed by host Brian Edwards-Tiekert
WNYC Studios The Takeaway, “Asian American Histories of the United States,” August 4, 2022, interviewed by host Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry.
UnSung History, “Filipino Nurses in the United States,” August 1, 2022, interviewed by podcast host Kelly Therese Pollock.
Write Through The Night, “10 New Book Releases Coming Out August 2022,” July 30, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Nichi Bei Weekly, “A ‘vibrant,’ non-linear approach to Asian America’s histories,” July 21, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES reviewed by Art Hansen.
NBC News, “Constance Wu’s harassment exposes Hollywood’s glaring double standards,” July 19, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
Autostraddle, “49 Queer and Feminist Books Coming Out Summer 2022,” July 8, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Factually! with Adam Conover, “Asian American Histories of the U.S.,” July 6, 2022, interviewed by host Adam Conover.
Booklist, “Asian American Histories of the United States,” July 1, 2022, book review.
ABC7 Chicago, “Filipino nurses in America: The unseen, unsung, untold story,” June 1, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
ABC7 Chicago, “Filipino nurses in America: The history vs. the stereotype,” May 30, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
Publishers Weekly, “Asian American Histories of the United States,” May 18, 2022, book review.
Asia Society, “Author Catherine Choy on the Lessons of Asian American History,” April 11, 2022, interviewed by Asia Society President and CEO and former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd.
Book Riot, “18 of the Best Asian American Books To Read This Year,” April 7, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Axios, “Lynchings: An untold piece of Asian American history,” April 2, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
Kirkus Reviews, “Asian American Histories of the United States,” March 22, 2022, starred book review.
NBC News, “Why Ali Wong’s ultrasexual comedy is profound amid fear among Asian American women,” by Kimmy Yam, March 8, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
NBC News, “Why Nathan Chen’s history-making gold medal is so significant,” by Kimmy Yam, February 10, 2022, interviewed and quoted in news story.
Ms. Magazine, “Most Anticipated Reads for the Rest of Us 2022,” February 7, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES featured in this list.
Events
Town Hall Seattle Civics Series, “Angela Tucker, Catherine Ceniza Choy, and Samira Mehta: Stories of Transracial Adoption,” May 3, 2023, Seattle, WA.
University of Virginia Randolph Award Lecture, “History and Memory of Filipino Nurses in U.S. Health-Care Delivery,” April 18, 2023, online.
New Orleans Book Festival, “Catherine Ceniza Choy in Conversation with Annalise Singh,” March 11, 2023, Tulane University.
New York Public Library and Asian American Writers’ Workshop, “Talking Books: Asian American Authors in Conversation—Catherine Ceniza Choy, author of Asian American Histories of the United States,” February 15, 2023, online.
Share Your Asian Story @shareyourasianstory, “Dr. Catherine Ceniza Choy,” January 22, 2023, Instagram live episode.
Gilder Lehman Institute of American History Book Breaks, “Asian American Histories of the United States,” January 1, 2023, interview series with historians, online.
National Museum of Natural History, “In The Pandemic’s Wake: Fight the Virus, NOT the People,” October 18, 2022, panelist in webinar conversation moderated by Smithsonian Curator Theodore Gonzalves.
6th Filipino American International Book Festival, October 15-16, 2022, panelist, San Francisco Main Library.
UC Berkeley Future Histories Lab, “Rethinking Place in Asian American Histories of the United States,” October 14, 2022, invited lecture in Landscapes of Migration, Incarceration and Resistance speaker series, Osher Theater, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA).
Napa Valley College Cultural Center, “Filipino American Histories of the United States, ” October 12, 2022, invited lecture, online.
Berkeley OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), “‘How Did We Get Here?:’ Violence in Asian American Histories,” October 7, 2022, invited lecture in OLLI’s America’s Unfinished Work speaker series, online.
Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association (APISA) of UCOP (University of California Office of the President), “APISA presents author Catherine Ceniza Choy, Ph.D.,” September 29, 2022, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIES OF THE UNITED STATES book discussion, online.
Center for Asian Pacific American Women, “CAPAW AANHPI Regional Conference 2022,” September 28, 2022, interviewed by reporter Dion Lim, Oakland, CA.
Asia Society Northern California, “Asian American Histories of the United States With Catherine Choy and Russell Jeung,” September 15, 2022, book event moderated by Russell Jeung, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, San Francisco, CA.
KPFA, “Catherine Choy: Asian American Histories of the United States,” August 9, 2022, book release celebration hosted by Miko Lee at The Back Room in Berkeley, CA.
BAMPFA (Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive), “In Conversation: The Joy Luck Club,” in conversation with director Wayne Wang and author Amy Tan, March 13, 2022, Berkeley, CA.
Discover Cal, “New Insights on COVID-19,” panelist February 24, 2022, online.
American Library Association, “Voices of Asian Americans in History and Today,” January 21, 2022, discussion hosted by ALA President, Patricia “Patty” Wong, online.
Selected Honors & Awards
Agnes Dillon Randolph Award, University of Virginia Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry, 2023
Peder Sather Center for Advanced Study Grant, Co-PI with Dr. Linn Normand on “Exhuming Immigrant Voices From the Past: A Critical Archival Study of the Bancroft Library,” 2020-2023
Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lecturer, 2017-2020
UC Berkeley Townsend Center for the Humanities Senior Faculty Fellow, 2018-2019
Institute of International Studies Faculty Interdisciplinary Program Grant on “Gender and the Trans-Pacific World,” 2016-2018
Social Science Matrix Research Team Award on “Migration, Racialization, and Gender: Comparing Filipino Migration to France and the US,” 2017-2018
Fulbright Distinguished Lectureship, Yonsei University, Korea, 2015-2016
Organization of American Historians Japanese Residencies Program, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, 2011
Edith Kreeger Wolf Distinguished Visiting Professor, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 2005
Association for Asian American Studies History Book Award for Empire of Care, 2005
American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award in History and Public Policy for Empire of Care, 2003