Four Women Scholars Promoted to Associate Professor and Granted Tenure at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania

Swarthmore College, the highly rated liberal arts educational institution in suburban Philadelphia has announced the promotion of seven faculty members from assistant professor to associate professor. They were also awarded tenure. Four of the promotions went to women.

Elaine Allard was promoted to associate professor of educational studies. She began her career as a high-school English as a second language teacher in North Philadelphia. Her ethnographic work focuses on the education of immigrants and language minorities, with a particular emphasis on Latino immigrants in secondary schools. Dr. Allard is a graduate of Swarthmore College. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lei Ouyang Bryant is a new associate professor of music. Her research examines issues of music and memory, identity, politics, race and ethnicity, popular culture, and social justice. Dr. Bryant previously taught at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Dr. Bryant is a graduate of Macalester College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she majored in East Asian studies. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh.

BuYun Chen is an associate professor of history who specializes in the history of textile production, fashion, and craft technology in premodern China. She recently completed a book on the history of fashion during the Tang dynasty, titled Empire of Style: Silk and Fashion in Tang China (University of Washington Press, 2019). Her current research explores how the circulation of raw materials, finished goods, and technical knowledge among China, Japan, and Southeast Asia shaped local craft practices.

Daifeng He was promoted to associate professor of economics. Her research focuses on health economics and policy, the economics of Medicare and Medicaid policies, long-term care, and insurance. She previously taught at the College of William and Mary. Dr. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Shanghai University of Finance & Economics in China. She earned a master’s degree in economics from the University of Oregon and a Ph.D. in economics from Washington Univerity in St. Louis.