The Department of American Culture will continue celebrating its 90th anniversary this fall with a series of special events at the American Studies Association (ASA) Annual Conference in Chicago, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026.
Building on a decades-long presence at the ASA conference, the department is hosting a 90th-anniversary reception designed to bring together faculty, alums, current students, and academic colleagues. The reception offers attendees a space to reconnect, honor the department's legacy, and envision the future of their collective work.
In addition to the reception, the department will host a Special Session featuring Roland Hwang, an attorney, civil rights activist, and lecturer in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies within the Department of American Culture. A co-founder and President of American Citizens for Justice, Hwang brings a wealth of expertise in civil rights advocacy and public service, having served on the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and as chair of the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Both the reception and the special session will showcase posters created specifically for the milestone by UM undergraduate and graduate students, highlighting the department's ongoing vibrant scholarship and student achievement.
