“You know, Ethnic Studies… it sort of touches you in very personal ways. In very collective ways. And it’s not something that you just, you know, separate from your life, right? Like ‘that is my field of study.’ It’s actually the life that you live, right? Which is an amazing thing to do in life itself.”
Dr. Rick Bonus is a Professor of American Ethnic Studies at University of Washington, with his research largely focusing on Filipinx studies, Pacific Islander studies, and Southeast Asian studies. Dr. Bonus attended UC San Diego as a Ph.D. student in the department of Communication from 1992 to 1998. After spending time serving as a teacher’s assistant for courses in the Ethnic Studies department, Dr. Bonus eventually was able to petition the chair of the Ethnic Studies department to allow him to lead a collaboratively constructed and community-oriented class on Filipino American history. Throughout the interview, Dr. Bonus covers topics such as Filipino American history, Filipino student activism, community building, formal and informal advocacy, overcoming structural/institutional barriers, and the goals and philosophies of UC San Diego’s Ethnic Studies department.
This interview was conducted via Zoom on March 1, 2025 by Catherine Quan Potmesil, who was connected with Dr. Bonus by Windi Sasaki. Dr. Bonus, who also served as a guest speaker for GROW, was also the undergraduate advisor of Dr. Simeon Man, who is Catherine’s committee chair. Catherine Quan Potmesil is a 6th year Ph.D. candidate in the department of History at UC San Diego. Her research focuses on refugee camps in the Philippines post-Vietnam War, and the communities/kinship networks within them. Catherine also serves as APIMEDA Programs & Services’ Graduate Climate and Community Intern.
Leave a Reply