Yumi Kodama is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Her research specialization lies in the field of pre-modern Japanese women's history, specifically the period prior to 1650. Her work scrutinizes women's roles within family structures as well as their political contributions. Through her scholarship, she aims to challenge and deconstruct prevailing stereotypes that depict pre-modern East Asian women as passive, submissive, and obedient.

In the academic year 2022-2023, she commenced her service as a SASGov representative. Among her accomplishments was the successful advocacy for the implementation of a temporary gender-neutral bathroom in her building. Additionally, as a member of the GAPSA general assembly and the Research Council, she has actively participated in initiatives such as the free-meal swipe program and a project to offer free printing services to graduate students.

Currently serving as Vice-President of Policy, she is committed to addressing the diverse needs of graduate students. A proponent of proactive change, she firmly believes in the power of collective action over mere critique.

She will organize a Town Hall in 2024. Should you have any ideas, suggestions, or concerns related to graduate life at Penn, Yumi Kodama welcomes your input. Feel free to reach out to her to make your voice heard.

Contact: sasgov-policy@sas.upenn.edu