Asian American studies leader Franklin Odo has passed away

via Facebook

Franklin Odo, a leader in Asian American studies, has passed away according to social media posts.

The details regarding Odo’s passing are unclear but several people have begun to pay tribute to the trailblazer on Facebook and Twitter.

Odo was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1939. He received his B.A. in history from Princeton University in 1961 and his M.A. in East Asian regional studies from Harvard University in 1963. Later, he went back to Princeton and earned his doctorate degree.

According to a Facebook post by Phil Tajitsu Nash, in the 1960s and 1970s Odo became a vocal advocate for including Asian American studies in colleges and universities. Odo went on to teach at several universities throughout California.

Odo also served as the director of the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institution from its inception in 1997 to 2010. The Smithsonian tweeted a tribute to Odo.

Today we remember Frankling Odo, founding director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. The thoughts of those of us at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are with Odo’s family, friends, and community. pic.twitter.com/hU67VzoyBe

— Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (@SmithsonianAPA) September 29, 2022

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