Dr. Doug Fuqua

I joined the UMGC faculty in 2023. I teach World and Asian history with a focus on early Japanese history, archaeology, culture, and linguistic development. I spent over a decade in Tokyo as a graduate student, translator, and university instructor. While there, I participated directly in archaeological excavations and researched maritime exchange between Japan, Korea, and China.

Like many of you now, I was a non-traditional student (I was in my late twenties when I started graduate work.) I therefore appreciate the difficulties students face while trying to make ends meet and take care of family. I very much enjoy working with students of diverse backgrounds. Over the last two decades, I have taught and mentored students in Japan, Honolulu, and now Europe. In each location I find that I learn as much from my students as they from me.

When you take one of my courses you see that I emphasize active learning from day one. This means I always intersperse lectures and presentations with student-led activities, discussions, presentations and feedback. Rather than just requiring students to write research papers and complete exams, I ask them to communicate and participate actively with peers in the classroom. It is my goal and responsibility to make the topic of history both thought-provoking and memorable!

I prefer teaching but write as well. Examples include: “Classical Japan and the Continent” in Routledge Handbook of Premodern Japanese History; "Centralization and State Formation" in Japan Emerges: Introductory Essays on Premodern History; and "The Japanese Missions to Tang China, 7th-9th Centuries." About Japan: A Teacher's Resource, “Japan Society of New York” http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/the_japanese_missions_to_tang_china_7th-9th_centuries.

My current pastimes include reading British and European History and travelling throughout Europe. I’ve seen a lot, but still much to see and learn!