Dr Vilashini Somiah, a proud Sabahan and senior lecturer with the Gender Studies Programme at Universiti Malaya (UM), has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Southeast Asian-based scholar to be elected Chair of the Southeast Asia Council (SEAC), under the prestigious Association for Asian Studies (AAS).

Her term as Chair will run from March 2026 to March 2028, during which she will also serve on the AAS Board of Directors, a body that oversees the world’s largest academic organisation dedicated to the study of Asia.

This trailblazing appointment is not only a personal triumph for Dr Vilashini, but also a proud moment for Universiti Malaya and Malaysia as a whole. Her leadership marks a major breakthrough in placing Malaysian academia on the global stage and showcases the exceptional talent emerging from Southeast Asia.







Dr Vilashini is the first scholar based in the region to lead SEAC since its founding in 1970. A groundbreaking feat that challenges the historical underrepresentation of Southeast Asian voices in global academic governance.

With nearly 15 years of anthropological research under her belt, Dr Vilashini has devoted her work to highlighting gender issues and the marginalisation of migrants and indigenous communities across Sabah, Sarawak, and Borneo. Her research continues to shine a light on the lived experiences of those often left unheard.

Her rising global influence is further solidified through her impressive international affiliations, including being an ASEAN-Australia Visiting Fellow in 2018, a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics’ Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre in 2024, and most recently, an Associate at the Harvard University Asia Center for 2025 & 2026 ; a connection that began following her public lecture at Harvard earlier this year.

Dr Vilashini’s appointment is more than a professional accolade, it is a powerful symbol of recognition for Malaysian scholars and a clarion call for Southeast Asian representation in shaping the academic future of the region.

Source : Borneo Post