Research Projects
Dina Okamoto’s expertise is in the areas of race, ethnicity, immigration, and social movements. Her scholarship addresses how immigrants navigate racial categories and build new collective identities when engaging in civic and political life in the U.S.
Redefining Race
In Redefining Race, Dina Okamoto traces the complex evolution of “Asian American” as a panethnic label and identity, emphasizing how it is a deliberate social achievement negotiated by group members, rather than an organic and inevitable process.
Public Writing
Dina Okamoto has written for public outlets such as Education Week and The Guardian, covering topics including immigrant organizing, developing a racial analysis in research, and the origins of racial categories like “Asian American.”