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Department of History Department of History
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  3. History Postdoctoral and Visiting Scholars

Postdoctoral Scholars

  • Alexyss McClellan-Ufugusuku

    Alexyss McClellan-Ufugusuku

    Alexyss (Lex) is a shikkē nu Uchinaanchu winagu (Indigenous Ryūkyūan woman from the island of Uchinaa) and is currently a University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellow. While at UCSD she is working on a book manuscript about defining legal categories for the Ryūkyū Islands under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryūkyū Islands (the military government), which was in power from 1945-1972. Additionally, she analyzes the islands under USCAR rule through the lens of international law and argues that while the U.S. consulted policies and precedents established in other islands within its archipelagic empire—namely Guahån, Hawai’i, and the islands composing the Trust Territory of the Pacific— the legal scheme created for the Ryūkyū Islands was entirely unique, as well as virtually illegible under international law.
     
    In addition to her work in the academy, Lex has also advocated for Ryūkyūan rights at various international forums including the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and ICCM5, and she is an active member of both the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus and the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform. As a scholar of her own community, Lex commits to one public/community presentation for every academic conference she presents at. 
     
    Prior to coming to UC San Diego, Lex completed her graduate training in the History Department (with a Designated Emphasis in Critical Race & Ethnic Studies) at the University of California Santa Cruz under the advising of Drs. Alan Christy, Noriko Aso, and Alice Yang, and under the mentorship of Dr. Katie Keliiaa. While at UCSC, Lex also served for seven years as Head Coach for the UCSC women's lacrosse team and seven years as an assistant coach for the Pacific Collegiate School's boys' lacrosse team. 
     
    Lex was born and raised in San Diego, and is excited to be returning home to the South Bay for the duration of the UC PPFP postdoc. While at UCSD, she will be working under the mentorship of Dr. Wendy Matsumura. 

Visiting Scholars

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    Heidi Feldman

    Visiting Scholar appointment: 7/1/24 - 6/30/25
    Faculty Sponsor: Daniel Widener
    Email: hfeldman@cox.net
    Research area: global career of Afro-Peruvian cultural icon
    Victoria Santa Cruz (1022-2014)