In 1999, the UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) was established to enhance the study and understanding of Southeast Asia’s rich cultures, histories, and contemporary issues. As we mark 25 years of growth and impact, we take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come.

Over the past quarter-century, CSEAS has become a nationally recognized hub for Southeast Asian studies. Since 2000, our progress has been strengthened by Title VI National Resource Center (NRC) funding from the U.S. Department of Education. This support has allowed us to expand our Southeast Asian language programs, which now offer instruction in Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese, ensuring that our students are equipped with the skills to engage meaningfully with the region.

We have also benefited from Title VI Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships, which have been vital in supporting graduate and undergraduate students pursuing Southeast Asian language proficiency and area studies. These fellowships have empowered many of our students to contribute significantly to the study of Southeast Asia, both academically and in various professional fields.

CSEAS has become a key center for research, education, and community engagement. Los Angeles County, with its significant Southeast Asian population has been central to our work. We've always recognized the importance of bringing attention to the stories and experiences of Southeast Asian communities, both in academia and beyond. Through our programs, we’ve provided a space for those voices to be heard.

Our center has helped many students, scholars, and researchers pursue their academic interests, offering opportunities for study, fieldwork, and international collaboration. Our faculty have conducted significant research on a wide range of topics, from migration and diaspora to climate change, resource management, and human rights. CSEAS has played an important role in advancing knowledge about Southeast Asia’s past, present, and future.

But CSEAS is more than just research. It’s also a place for cultural exchange. Over the years, we’ve organized hundreds of events—symposia, language workshops, speaker series, performances, film screenings, and art exhibits—showcasing the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia. These events have enriched the academic experience of our students and given the wider Los Angeles community a chance to experience the music, dance, literature, and cuisine of Southeast Asia. From gamelan performances to film festivals featuring Indonesian and Philippine cinema, from language pedagogy workshops to discussions on regional politics, we’ve created opportunities for engagement and dialogue.

Our efforts also extend to supporting community-driven research and building partnerships that matter. In recent years, we’ve worked with local community groups, Southeast Asian consulates, and advocacy organizations to address issues important to Southeast Asian diaspora communities in Los Angeles. These collaborations have focused on refugee resettlement, cultural preservation, and educational outreach. Through these efforts, CSEAS has become more than a space for learning—it’s also a place for solidarity and collaboration.

We are especially proud of the fieldwork and study abroad opportunities we’ve provided for students. These experiences have taken them to the landscapes of Southeast Asia, from archaeological projects in the Philippines to ethnographic studies in Cambodia and Indonesia. By working directly with the people and communities they study, our students have gained insights that challenge and broaden their understanding of the region, equipping them with the skills needed to address complex global challenges.

Milestones and Partnerships

CSEAS has reached numerous milestones over the years. We began as part of UCLA’s broader effort to strengthen its international studies programs, recognizing Southeast Asia’s significant role in global affairs. With Los Angeles County being home to the largest Southeast Asian population outside Southeast Asia, CSEAS has been uniquely positioned to connect academic inquiry with the real-world experiences of local communities.

From the beginning, we’ve focused on making Southeast Asian studies accessible to a wide audience. Our language instruction programs, community partnerships, and collaborations with consulates and student and cultural organizations reflect our commitment to supporting the needs of Southeast Asian communities here in LA and beyond. Our designation as a Title VI National Resource Center allowed us to expand our programs, offer new research opportunities, and bring scholars from Southeast Asia to UCLA to share their expertise.

Our work has been supported by the Henry Luce Foundation, whose backing has been critical in initiatives like the Program for Early Modern Southeast Asia, the Global Indigeneity Initiative, and the LuceSEA Convening Conference. These programs have enabled us to expand our research scope and promote connections with scholars and communities across Southeast Asia.

Support and Collaboration

We are deeply grateful to Rob and Seinenu Lemelson, and Julia and Ken Gouw, whose unwavering support of Southeast Asian studies, particularly in Indonesia, has been key to many of our achievements. Their generosity has helped us continue our work in promoting the study and understanding of the region at UCLA.

In addition, we want to acknowledge the crucial support from the UCLA International Institute, led by Vice Provost Cindy Fan, UCLA Social Sciences Division, led by Dean Abel Valenzuela, and the Humanities Division, led by Dean Alex Stern. Although CSEAS operates within the UCLA International Institute, many of our faculty members have home departments within these divisions, and their collaboration has been integral to our success.

To our stakeholders who have stood by us through the years, your unwavering support has been crucial to our success. A special thank you goes to the Consulates General of the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia in Los Angeles, as well as all the other consulates that have collaborated with us. We are also grateful to our community, institutional, and consortium partners - UC Berkeley Center for Southeast Asia Studies, Graduate Education and Training in Southeast Asia Consortium, Southeast Asian Language Council, and Council of Teachers of Southeast Asian Languages. Your continued commitment has been instrumental in bringing our shared vision to life.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are thankful for the partnerships, students, faculty, and communities that have supported us along the way. Looking ahead, we remain committed to strengthening the study of Southeast Asia and expanding our efforts to connect the region with Los Angeles and the world.

Thank you for being part of our story. Here’s to the next 25 years of learning, collaboration, and community engagement.