The Asian Studies Center works closely with faculty affiliates and specialists across MSU’s departments and colleges, while also partnering with higher education institutions in the Midwest and beyond, as well as K–12 schools. Through these collaborations, we advance teaching, research, and outreach that deepen knowledge and learning about Asia at MSU and in the wider community.
Siddharth Chandra, Ph.D.
Director, Asian Studies Center
Email:
Office: (517)-884-2116
Dr. Siddharth Chandra has served as the Director of the Asian Studies Center at Michigan State University since 2009. Under his leadership, the Center was designated a Title VI Pan Asia National Resource Center (NRC) from 2009 to 2018, and again from 2022 to 2025. He is also a Professor of Economics at James Madison College at MSU.
Dr. Chandra holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Cornell University, an A.M. in Economics from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. (with honors) in Economics from Brandeis University. Before joining Michigan State University, he was the Director of the Asian Studies Center and an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
Soksamphoas Im, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Asian Studies Center
Email:
Office: (517)-884-2117
Dr. Soksamphoas Im joined the MSU Asian Studies Center in 2023, bringing a wealth of experience from her work in higher education and non-profit organizations. Her professional journey includes roles as a researcher, consultant, and program analyst at various institutions including Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Center for Khmer Studies, Stanford University, and the National University of Singapore.
Dr. Im holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, as well as an M.Sc. in Defense, Development, and Diplomacy from Durham University, the United Kingdom.
Julia Grimm
Secretary
Email:
Office: (517)-884-2120
Julia Grimm serves as the secretary for Siddharth Chandra and the MSU Asian Studies Center. Since joining International Studies & Programs (ISP) in 2011, she has contributed to various units within the organization. Julia holds a BASc in Business, Family, and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences from Michigan State University.
At the Asian Studies Center, Julia facilitates ASN programming, coordinates collaborative meetings, and manages EBS processing. She appreciates the opportunity to learn something new about Asia and its diverse cultures each day.
Sarinna Areethamsirikul, Ph.D.
Dr. Sarinna Areethamsirikul joined the Asian Studies Center as an Event Coordinator in Fall 2024. She brings extensive experience from her work with various international and Thai NGOs. Previously, she served as a fixed-term Assistant Professor at James Madison College, Michigan State University, from 2016 to 2017.
Dr. Areethamsirikul's academic and professional interests focus on international development and democratization in Southeast Asia. She holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.
Allyson Tishler
Web Developer and Communication Assistant
Email:
Allyson Tishler joined the MSU Asian Studies Center as a student assistant in 2025 and now serves as Web Developer and Communication Assistant (Professional Aide). She holds a Master’s degree in Media and Information, specializing in Human-Computer Interaction and UX design, and a B.A. in Information Science with a focus on Human-Centered Technology from Michigan State University. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Serious Game Design.
Her interests include accessibility and inclusive design, with a particular interest in how technology can support people across different cultural contexts.
Asian Language Resources (OER)
Global Speaker Program
Asian Studies Center Newsletter
AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies
