James S. Lai is a Professor in the Ethnic Studies department with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Political Science. As an interdisciplinary-trained scholar who seeks to bridge the fields of Ethnic Studies and Political Science, his research interests, specialties, and expertise include U.S. racial and ethnic politics, social media and civic engagement, urban politics, multi-racial coalitions, Asian American communities, California local politics, and Asian American politics. He is author of book Asian American Connective Action in the Age of Social Media (2022, Temple University Press), which examines how social media is changing the ways Asian Americans participate in politics.