Joanna Suwen Lee-Brown ·  李素文 ·  جوانا لي براون

About

I am a writer and teacher currently pursuing an academic career as a PhD student at Columbia University, in the department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and the Institute of Comparative Literature and Society. I live, research, and write between Singapore, New York City, Cairo, and Beijing.

My dissertation explores the shifting relationship between global Islam, socialism, and Third World internationalism in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the 1950s to the present. It asks if religion is compatible with global emancipatory left-wing politics by tracing Chinese Muslims’ historical attempts to theorize and narrativize the relationship between Islam, anti-imperialism, and socialism through translingual writing and media practices. I work with Chinese and Arabic in my research.

I believe that education in the humanities remains critical to responding to the crises of our times. I incorporate my experiences in meditation and group facilitation into my teaching to create spaces for vulnerability and courage to engage with difficult ideas. In addition to teaching at Columbia University, I provide private research mentorship, admissions advising, and life coaching to high school and undergraduate students.

I am an avid freediver and yoga practitioner, with an interest in ancient spiritual sites across the world.

You may contact me at jsl2230@columbia.edu.