Minority Fellowship Program Testimonials: Susan R. Takata

As I look back at my personal story and professional life, the underlying theme has been my asking “Why not?” Being a first-generation college student, sansei (third-generation Japanese American), and female, I suppose I didn’t know any better. 

Why not college? 

Part of the nisei generation, my parents were born in Southern California and came of age in the internment camps during World War II. My dad was a high school dropout, and my mom received her high school diploma inside the internment camp. After the war, my parents’ families returned to farming in the South Bay area. Growing up, we didn’t have many things, but somehow, my parents made sure that we didn’t feel poor. 

When it came to college, my parents put their limited resources into the education of my two brothers in hopes they would become doctors or lawyers. In high school, I had my sights set on UCLA, but my father didn’t see a college education as a worthwhile investment for a young woman. Undeterred, I started at the local community college and then transferred to California State University, Dominguez Hills, majoring in sociology. To pay for my undergraduate education, I worked in the college library and cleaned test tubes in a hospital laboratory. 

At Dominguez Hills, I was very fortunate to have been a student of Jeanne Curran, a professor who taught me the importance of not only asking “Why not?” but turning these questions into action. She knew that many of her first-generation college students were students of color who would need extra nurturing in order to succeed. With federal funding, Curran created an undergraduate student-operated research center recognized by the ASA Undergraduate Teaching Project headed by Hans O. Mauksch. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship that influenced my approach to teaching and research. 

Why not graduate school? 

As a sociology major, the career prospects were social worker or county probation officer. I took the exam to become a probation officer but ended up on a long wait list. As a backup plan, I applied for grad school. I enjoyed school and had an excellent GPA, but I questioned how someone with my background coming from a small state school could be accepted to — let alone succeed in — graduate school. It turns out that the research and presentation experience I gained gave me an edge that I didn’t know I had until much later. 

To my surprise, the University of California, Berkeley accepted me into its sociology PhD program with an offer of partial funding. Ranked number one in the country at the time, it was a tremendous opportunity. The first sociology professor I encountered was Bob Blauner, who shared my interests in race and ethnic relations. I had also read about labeling theory and was interested in the writings of Herbert Blumer. When I first met Blumer, he claimed that he wasn’t taking new students. I persisted until he said yes. A year after starting at Cal, I received a letter forwarded to me from the LA County Probation Office, inviting me for interview — an offer politely declined. 

In my first year of graduate school, I realized that my small grant, work study, and modest tuition reduction— in addition to working as a reader for Harry Edwards — would not be sufficient to make ends meet. I learned of the ASA Minority Fellowship Program from current Fellows at Cal, and it seemed like another moment to ask, “Why not?” In 1976, I was awarded the Minority Fellowship as a member of the third cohort. 

That was the beginning of many doors opening up: annual ASA meetings included sessions and receptions with other fellows and ASA MFP committee members who would become crucial mentors. In addition, there were several minority fellows at Berkeley, which led to visits by individuals such as Jay Stauss and Russell Endo, who further cultivated a network of support. 

Why not a section on Asia and Asian America? 

At annual ASA meetings, fellow students and I would try to attend sessions to meet other Asian American scholars. As a result of our sessions spilling out into the halls, we decided that we needed our own meeting space. Beginning in 1977, the Asian Caucus at Berkeley (an organization supporting Asian American graduate students in sociology) spearheaded a newsletter and organized sessions during the ASA meetings, becoming the nucleus for the creation of the ASA Section on Asia and Asian America in 1983–84. I was elected section chair for the 1987–89 term and remained active for a number of years. 

Why not a federal research grant, PhD, and cross-country move? 

I thought grad students wrote grants, so (in another edition of “not knowing any better”), I applied for funding from the National Institute of Corrections in 1979 to evaluate alternatives to jail incarceration in California — a topic which would coincide nicely with my dissertation research. As a result, I was awarded a $50,000 grant and the opportunity to direct my own project from 1980 through 1982. This windfall presented my advisor, Troy Duster, with the unique task of putting this in motion within the university bureaucracy, as it was highly unusual for a grad student to receive federal funding at the time. Eventually, the grant was housed at the Institute for the Study of Social Change, and David Matza agreed to serve as my principal investigator in name. 

In 1983, I received my PhD in sociology. Thanks to my ASA MFP network, and Joan Moore in particular, I was hired as an adjunct instructor at UW-Milwaukee. There, I was also reunited with former Fellows, Bill Velez and Duane Champagne. No matter where I went, there always seemed to be someone affiliated with the ASA MFP. 

In 1984, I was hired in the Sociology/Anthropology Department at the University of Wisconsin- Parkside, a small state school with comparable student demographics to my undergraduate experience at Dominguez Hills. At UWP, I joined former Fellow Mary Romero and future MFP director Lionel Maldonado.

Why not undergraduate research in Wisconsin? 

In 1985, I was approached by the chair of the City of Racine Task Force Commission on Gangs and Delinquency, who wanted me to examine the local gang problem. Although I was new to the area, there were two major resources I could readily involve: local MFP colleague and gang specialist Joan Moore, and my students, who were very familiar with the surrounding 

community. I made this an opportunity to replicate the undergraduate student-operated research center at UWP. For $3000 over one semester, my students developed a multi-methodological research design, culminating in a 200-page report which was presented in the city council chambers with all stakeholders and local media invited. After this initial study, we received two major research grants which supported student research for the next three years. It was an exciting time for my students and rewarding for me to see them learn to ask “Why not?” for themselves. 

From 1989 to 1991, I served on the ASA MFP Advisory Committee with former UWP colleague and then-director Lionel Maldonado. There, I was gratified to see former Fellows in decision- making positions and active in the ASA. 

Why not create a new department? 

Serving as department chair of sociology through the mid-90s kept me busy, but there was a real need in the surrounding communities for more B.A.-degreed graduates in Criminal Justice. 

When we had a critical mass of support, we finally made the leap — first to a program and then a full-fledged department, where I served as chair for most of 1997 to 2019. Our initial goals were modest, but the number of majors exploded, reaching our five-year projection after our second year. 

In conclusion, why not ASA MFP? 

Seeing many of our first-generation college graduates from UWP become active leaders and successful professionals in southeastern Wisconsin was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Since retiring in 2019, I have enjoyed traveling with family and continue to serve on the local police and fire commission. 

The MFP made it financially possible for me to obtain a PhD in sociology, taking my career beyond what I had dreamed achievable when I began my education. However, I cannot stress enough that the MFP was not simply about funding my studies; there is no price tag that one can place on the meaningful relationships, invaluable networking, advice, and moral support needed to succeed at every stage of my educational and career journey. 

The long list of past Fellows comprises an impressive group of scholars who have not only contributed to the discipline, but also ensured that it represents the diverse voices and backgrounds of our society. Their creativity, imagination, and courage to think differently has fostered new and refreshing perspectives in the field and has given me the confidence to keep asking, “Why not?” Perhaps not knowing any better and challenging the traditional norms are key to offering the discipline its best future. Thank you, ASA MFP!