Thomas E Kingston Fras (孔天慧 / ကျော်သူ)

Thomas E Kingston FRAS, currently a Berkeley Fellow and Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley, specializes in South and Southeast Asian Studies. Since 2022, Kingston has contributed to academia as the President and Founder of the Southeast Asia Graduate Working Group and as a Lead Graduate Student Instructor for courses on the history and culture of Southeast Asia. Kingston's involvement in various committees, such as the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health and the Graduate Assembly, reflects a commitment to student welfare and engagement. Additionally, Kingston serves as a host for the New Books Network's Intellectual History Channel and as an Editorial Director for the Association of Southeast Asian Studies. Prior experiences include consulting for U Thant House, research assistant roles, and engagement with various academic institutions and professional organizations related to Southeast Asian studies. Academic qualifications include an MPhil in Philosophy from Renmin University and an MA in Pacific Asian Studies from SOAS University of London, among other language and cultural studies.