Scholar
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Ethnic Studies, Asian American Studies, Critical Refugee Studies & American Studies
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Cham Muslim American, Cambodian (Khmer) American, & Southeast Asian American Diasporas
Researcher
Interdisciplinary Researcher
Methodologies:
Mixed-Methods; Qualitative; Oral Histories; Interviews; Archival, Media & Cultural Analysis
Email: marimas@hawaii.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhosan
Teacher
Racial Formations & Social Constructions of Identity:
Race/Racism, Ethnicity, Refugee, Indigeneity & Asian Indigeneity, Intersectionality
Contemporary U.S. History, Immigration & Politics:
Post-1965 Immigration;Transnationalism & Diaspora; Refugee Resettlement; Settler Colonialism & Decolonization; U.S.-SEA Relations & Empire
Popular Media & Culture:
Representations/Consumptions/
Reproductions
Advocate
Higher Education Advocate: Advisor &
Mentor to College & High School Students

Department of American Studies
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Marimas Hosan Mostiller
Ph.D. Candidate



About Me
I am an American Studies Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Upon completion, I will be one of the first Cham Americans to earn a Ph.D. in the U.S. As a first-generation college student, I have earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of La Verne, a M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California, and a M.A. in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.
I am a second-generation Cham American, a descendant of the Kingdom of Champa which is currently occupied by present-day Vietnam. My parents came to the United States from Cambodia as refugees of the Khmer Rouge genocide, and settled in Santa Ana, California.
As an interdisciplinary researcher and scholar, my research is mixed-methods and blends the methodological frameworks of social science, cultural studies, museum studies, and Asian American critique. My dissertation, which is titled “Indigenous Asian Muslim Refugees: The Complex Identities of Cham Americans,” examines and analyzes the identities and experiences of Cham Muslim Americans who are Indigenous to present-day Vietnam, Asian Americans, Muslims, and refugees or children of refugees from the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge genocide.
My experience growing up in a traditional Muslim household among other working-class, immigrant, Latinx, and Khmer communities prompted my interest in higher education advocacy, ethnic studies, and social justice. I have worked for a number of higher education pipeline programs and plan to continue advising and mentoring undergraduate students in the future as a professor.
Selected Publications


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“Inconceivable Connections: Indigenous and Refugee? The Erasure of Cham American Intersectional Identities.” (manuscript submitted for publication).
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“Guest Editor’s Introduction.” History & Perspectives: The Journal of the Chinese Historical Society of America – Special Issue: Chinese Cambodian (Khmer) American (San Francisco: Chinese Historical Society of America, forthcoming 2020).
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“Book Review: The Chinese and the Iron Road: Building the Transcontinental Railroad.” China Review International (Honolulu: University of Hawai‘i, forthcoming 2020).
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“The Perpetual Outsider.” Whiter: Asian American Women on Skin Color and Colorism, edited by Nikki Khanna (New York: NYU Press, 2020).
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“Cham Muslims.” Encyclopedia of Asian American Religious Cultures, edited by Jonathan H. X. Lee, Fumitaka Matsuka, Ronald Nakasone, and Edmond Yee (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2015).
Teaching Experience
I have experience as a lecturer and teaching assistant in the following fields: American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Asian American Studies, English, and Business. My expertise equips me to teach the following topics: Racial Formations & Social Constructions of Identity (Race/Racism, Ethnicity, Refugee, Indigeneity & Asian Indigeneity, Intersectionality); Contemporary U.S. History, Immigration & Politics (Post-1965 Immigration;Transnationalism & Diaspora; Refugee Resettlement; Settler Colonialism & Decolonization; U.S.-SEA Relations & Empire); and Popular Media & Culture (Representations/Consumptions/Reproductions).
Position: Lecturer
University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, American Studies Department (2017 - 2018)
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AMST 212: Contemporary American Global Issues (Writing-Intensive Course) - Lectured seminar course (in-person and online), administered and graded all assignments on the topics of international diplomacy, economic development, national security, demographic change, and the environmental protection.
University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business (Spring 2012)
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BUAD 495: Practicum in Business Issues - Co-led discussion course on professional development, and supervised field applications for upper-classmen students during their business internship.
Position: Teaching Assistant
University of Hawai‘i Mānoa
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AMST 220: Introduction to Indigenous Studies (2015-2017), American Studies Department
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AMST 310: Japanese Americans (Fall 2016), American Studies Department
San Francisco State University
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AAS 210: History of Asians in the United States (Fall 2013), Asian American Studies Department
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AAS 377: Cambodians in the United States (Fall 2012), Asian American Studies Department
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ENG 201: Accelerated Academic English 1 – Multilingual (Summer 2013), Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Summer Bridge Program
University of Southern California
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BUAD 104: Learning About International Commerce (Spring 2011), Marshall School of Business - Chaperoned 33 freshmen students on week-long study abroad trip Mumbai, India.
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BUAD 102: Global Leadership Seminar (Spring 2010), Marshall School of Business - Chaperoned 60 freshmen honors students on week-long study abroad trip to Shanghai, China.
Research
I am an Ethnic Studies and Asian American Studies interdisciplinary scholar who focuses on mixed-methods research. I have experience collecting quantitative and qualitative data via online surveys on Qualtrics, oral histories, interviewing participants, and performing content, media, and museum exhibit analysis. My theoretical frameworks are centered on Critical Refugee Studies, Critical Race Theory, Indigenous Studies, and Asian American critique.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of American Studies
“Indigenous Asian Muslim Refugees: The Complex Identities of Cham Americans” (Expected 2021)
• Mixed-methods research study that includes the collection of data via online surveys, oral histories, interviews, and analysis of representations of Cham people, culture and history. The study examines and analyzes the identities and experiences of Cham Muslim Americans who are Indigenous to present-day Vietnam, Asian Americans, Muslims, and refugees or children of refugees from the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge genocide.
Master's Thesis, San Francisco State University, College of Ethnic Studies
"Cham Identity and Social Mobility in the United States" (2014)
• Conducted a qualitative research study by collecting oral histories of Cham Americans. The analyses discussed the flexible identity and performativity of Cham Muslim identities within and outside Cham Muslim American communities.
San Francisco State University, College of Ethnic Studies
“Racial Microaggressions in the Workplace: The Experiences of Black College Administrators” (2013)
• Conducted a qualitative research study surveying Black college administrators on their experiences of overt racial discrimination and racial microagressions working at a predominantly white institution (PWI).
Master's Thesis, University of Southern California, Department of Education
"Perceptions of Inequality: Racism, Ethnic Identity, and Student Development" (2010)
• Conducted a quantitative research study surveying approximately 200 college students regarding their perceptions of racism on campus and its relationship with ethnic identity and student development.
Undergraduate Senior Project, University of La Verne, Department of Psychology
"Perceived Racial Prejudice and its Effect on Academic Performance" (2006)
• Conducted a quantitative research study surveying approximately 100 college students regarding their perceptions, experiences, and progress in college.
Century High School, Higher Education Center (2006)
• Developed the "College Tracking Survey" to track students' college application and college acceptance rates. Surveyed 342 high school seniors, analyzed and summarized results.
Projects
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Grant Writer for Cham Refugees Community (CRC) - “Documenting the Past and Future: Stories from Cham Muslim Community Elders and Youth (Cham Refugees Community Documentary Film and Youth Film Competition)”
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https://criticalrefugeestudies.com/grants/2020-grant-awardees

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Infographic Designer: "Represent Champa" on the 2020 U.S. Census (Distributed on Social Media)
