Professor of Sociology and Asian and Asian American Studies
Manchester Hall – Room 215
Phone: (860) 486 – 3791
Email: Bandana.Purkayastha@uconn.edu
NEW & NEWSWORTHY (link to separate page)
Professor of Sociology & Asian and Asian American Studies, Bandana Purkayastha just completed her tenure as Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. She was President of Sociologists for Women in Society, and continues as the American Sociological Association’s Representative to the International Sociological Association through 2018. Her research on the intersections of gender/racism/class/age; transnationalism; violence and peace; and human rights appeared in ten books and over forty articles and chapters since 2000. She was awarded the American Sociological Association’s Asia & Asian American section’s Contribution to the Field Award in 2016. Professor Purkayastha headlines the Sociology Department’s Fall 2017 Graduate Course Offerings with SOCI 5201 / THE LOGIC OF SOCIAL RESEARCH in addition to taking on SOCI 5895 – Section 2 which focuses on IMMIGRATION.
Examples of her recent work on different subjects include: Human Rights in Our Own Backyard: Injustice and Resistance in the US. This book won the ASA-Human Rights sections Gordon Hirabayashi book award for 2013; “Intersectionality in a Transnational World” (Gender & Society); As the Leaves Turn Gold: Asian Americans and Aging; Negotiating Ethnicity: South Asian Americans Traverse a Transnational World; Living Our Religions; Building a Fabric of Peace: Notes from the Field; Imagining pan-Asia: Tagore from a 21st century perspective, and From Gandhi to Gülen: The Habitus of Non-aggressive Action. Along with her research on the USA, she has consistently engaged in and facilitated global scholarly conversations: e.g., the co-edited collections on informal networks and social change in South Asia and West Africa (2004), on armed conflict and conflict resolution, especially the section on building and sustaining peace (2008), and the Current Sociology (2012) on linking research and action for social justice.
Professor Purkayastha’s excellence teaching and mentoring has been recognized through local, state and national awards. She has been awarded the Sociology graduate students’ Best Mentor award thrice (a record), has been recognized by AAUP and the State legislature for Teaching promise (2001), the UConn Alumni teaching excellence award (2010) and the American Sociological Association-Asian American Section’s teaching excellence award (2009).
Purkayastha has a significant record of leadership and organizational experience. She is an active member of International Sociological Association since 2002 especially as elected executive board member, since 2006, of RC-01 (currently Vice-President), and RC-32 (currently Secretary-Treasurer). She served on many elected councils and nominated committees within American Sociological Association (ASA), and will be ASA’s representative to the ISA (2014-2018). As President of Sociologists for Women in Society (2013-2014), she led the organization balance its operations, significant resources and its 21st century aspirations. Her editorial activities include work in Gender & Society, Journal of South Asian Diaspora, and Frontpage Publications’ Human Rights series. She has served as international and national expert, and ad hoc grants and manuscripts reviewer for entities around the world.