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Dr. Edwin Pak-Wah Leung

Born in Hong Kong, Professor Edwin Pak-wah Leung has been teaching at Seton Hall University since 1978 and is currently Chairman of the Department of Asian Studies. His teaching and research areas include: international relations and politics; modern Asian and Chinese history; and international business management and operations. He is an advisor to the following organizations: American Chinese Professionals Association; New Jersey Chinese Cultural Studies Foundation; and New Jersey Chinese American Federation. He is also an honorary board member of the Livingston Chinese School, and an honorary professor of Wuhan University.

For many years, Dr. Leung has been very active in serving the Asian American communities in New Jersey and the Greater New York areas. He served as President of the American Chinese Professionals Association, President of the U.S.-China Foundation for Medical Science and Technology, Founding Chair of the New Jersey Chinese Cultural Studies Foundation, President of the Livingston Chinese Association, Principal of the Livingston Chinese School, and had been on the planning committee for the New Jersey state-wide Chinese Festival. In addition, he served as Faculty Advisor to the Chinese Student Association at Seton Hall University for over ten years. Currently, he serves as Faculty Advisor to the International Student Association. He has recently been nominated by the Governor of New Jersey to serve on the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Dr. Leung’s services are unique because he has been able to utilize his professional ability to better serve the Asian American communities. For example, as Co-director of the Bilingual Education Teacher Training Program at Seton Hall University, he was able to secure federal funding to train a large number of Asian American bilingual teachers for local school districts in an effort to help educate new immigrant students from Asia. He is particularly interested in promoting Asian Studies among American people so that they can have a better understanding of the Asian people and their culture. He has given numerous public talks on various occasions, and has extensive published works.

Professor Leung has climbed the academic ladder with a very impressive record of accomplishments. Appointed as Assistant Professor by Seton Hall University at the age of 27, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1984 with unanimous approval by various internal and external evaluation committees. In 1992, he was promoted to Full Professor, again with unanimous approvals by all committees involved, at a relatively young age of 41. He has published 17 books (one of which has won the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book of 1992), 70 academic articles, and over 100 other articles. He has also presented papers at numerous academic and public meetings.

Professor Leung is also an internationally known scholar. He has had professional affiliations with the following academic institutions:
Princeton University, Columbia University, University of California at Berkeley and Los Angeles, University of Michigan, University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Wuhan University, Zhejiang University, Peking University, and University of Tokyo. While excelling in his professional career, Dr. Leung has never forgotten about his services to the Asian American communities. He has also served as an intellectual bridge between the Asian Americans and the mainstream Americans through his public lectures and writings.

Dr. Leung is an exceptional individual who has done so much in terms both of his professional achievements, as well as his services to the Asian American communities. He is not only devoted but also persistent, and has been honored for his contributions by many organizations. For example, he received the Asian American Achievement Award (AAAA) from the New Jersey state-wide Asian American Ethnic Council (1996), and the Asian American Leadership Award from Bergen Community College (2001). He also received awards from: the U.S.-China Foundation for Medical Science and Technology (1998); Livingston Chinese School (1999); American Chinese Professionals Association (1999); New Jersey Chinese Cultural Studies Foundation (2000); Seton Hall University (1989,1994,1999,2004); and Yale University (2001).