Shania Kuo is a PhD Student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her research interests broadly surround Asian and Asian American identity, exploring the intersections of race, gender, and class in cases such as education, aging, caregiving, and health. With an emphasis on the lived experiences of Asian Americans, she explores how cultural, emotional, and identity-based factors shape community dynamics, racial solidarity, and individual and family well-being.

Her public-facing work has been featured in The Society Pages, where she has written sociological features on Asian American perspectives towards affirmative action and monolithic views of Asian American identity as well as topics of health and illness across the life course.

Shania’s research has been supported by the Kirkland Endowment and the Levitt Public Affairs Center at Hamilton College, the Edelstein Family Foundation, the Beverly and Fink Research Fellowship, the Diversity of Views & Experience (DOVE) Fellowship, and the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation (CHAI) at the University of Minnesota.

Shania is a first-generation college graduate, receiving her B.A. from Hamilton College. She is committed to mentoring and helping other first-generation college students within and outside academia. 

Outside of her graduate studies, Shania enjoys cooking, drawing, and taking walks when it's not negative degrees outside!

Photo Credit: Janelle Rodriguez