PROFILE

CHRIS HANSCOM KOREAN STUDIES

Claim to Fame: Hanscom, 35, arrived on campus last fall and holds joint appointments in the department of Asian and Middle Eastern languages and literatures and in the interdisciplinary Asian & Middle Eastern studies program. Tasked with expanding the breadth of Korean studies offerings, the assistant professor has a particular interest in Korean literary history of the I930s-40s. "Some of the best works were produced at this time," says Hanscom. "Korea was rapidly modernizing. There was a growing urban culture, growing interest in the cinema and consumerism."

C.V.: Born and raised in Maine, received his B.A. from Cornell (1994), his Ph.D. in East Asian languages and cultures from UCLA (2006) and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard's Korea Institute (2006-07).

As an undergraduate Hanscom focused on modern British and American literature. He considered graduate study in German and Japanese before an advisor suggested Korean. "I found its literary canon very interesting, and thought I could be of use," says Hanscom, who moved to Seoul for two years after college before learning Korean. "It was a humbling experience."

Off-campus; Married to Carol, a professional chef; father of daughters ages 5 and 2; is hoping to take up skiing.