Selwyn has a tradition in Japanese studies through its former Master, Professor Richard Bowring, and also retired Fellow Haruko Laurie. We’re therefore particularly pleased to welcome Dr Vicky Young to the Fellowship this autumn. She is the newly-appointed University of Cambridge Kawashima Lecturer in Japanese literature and culture.

Vicky completed her undergraduate degree at Trinity Hall, holds an MA in Japanese Cultural Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, and received her PhD from the University of Leeds in 2016. Her doctoral thesis focuses on the writings of Sakiyama Tami, Yi Yang-ji, and Tawada Yoko: three writers whose work represents her broader interests in Okinawan, resident Korean, and ‘transborder’ literature respectively. 

The college now has a considerable strength in modern languages. There are Selwyn Fellows or bye-fellows in German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and French – and we’re delighted to strengthen our links with the Faculty of Asian and Middle East Studies. Vicky Young will be formally installed as a Selwyn Fellow at the start of October.