Leslie Boey, PhD

I grew up in a first-generation Chinese-American home in the suburbs of Milwaukee developing my love for food, family, and the Midwest. I currently work with the Racial Justice Training Program in the Office of Undergraduate Education and have previously held roles in advising, curriculum development, residence life, and student leadership development. I am driven by a passion for social justice and creating impactful learning opportunities for students and staff in higher education to be agents of change. When not doing school or work, I am active in the ultimate frisbee community and enjoy the outdoors and traveling.

Dissertation

Anti-Asian Racism and the Critical Identity Development of Asian American College Students During COVID-19

Advisor: Tania D. Mitchell

Abstract: This dissertation explores the racial identities of Asian American college students during a time of heightened anti-Asian racism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In the early 2020s, political leaders blamed China for the global health crisis, resulting in a spike of anti-Asian violence and the need to investigate Asian American experiences with racism. Using critical narrative inquiry, this study explored how Asian American college students understood their racial identities amidst these conditions. Students’ lived experiences are retold as short stories, revealing how they negotiated race and identity through major social events. The findings indicate that language, hypervisibility, race-based education, social relationships, and cross-racial dynamics shaped Asian American college students’ racial identities. This research affirms the need to deeply recognize Asian Americans’ racial experiences, which are often sidelined in the fight for racial justice. This study offers practical recommendations for researchers, professionals, students, and non-academics alike to embrace the power of storytelling and work to make Asian Americans visible in the conversation on race.

Awards

• Tate Conference Showcase Winner, University of Minnesota, 2021
• Elizabeth Greenleaf Fellowship, Indiana University, 2017
• CEHD GAGE Dissertation Completion Fellowship, University of Minnesota, 2023