Deborah Wong

Deborah Anne Wong (born 1959) is an American academic, educator, and ethnomusicologist recognized for her studies of Asian-American and Thai music.

Early life and education Wong was born on the east coast of the United States and currently resides in California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and music from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. She later obtained her master's degree and PhD from the University of Michigan, completing her doctoral studies in 1991. She identifies as Chinese-American, Asian-American, and multi-ethnic. Wong was nominated to be a member of the National Council on the Humanities by President Barack Obama in December 2015.

Asian-American studies Wong's research examines Asian-American performance and its intersection with racial dynamics in America. She notes, "Race is very much a part of our lives, America has racist structures that drive it, and looking at race when studying music is a different approach". She wanted to spread the word about the little-known story of the city's lively Asian community. "Asian American Riverside" is a resource for local schools and the community. The project will help support interethnic understanding and strengthen the community in Riverside.

Wong has studied taiko and is part of Satori Daiko, a performing group in Los Angeles.

Selected bibliography Wong's first book is about ritual performance and its implications for the cultural politics of Thai court music and dance in Bangkok in the late twentieth-century. This book focuses on music and identity by looking at case studies.