Ronald Suleski, PhD

Director, The Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies

Research Interests

The daily lives of people in China from 1800 to today. Understanding their psychological and material environment, the values they had, their relationship to the deities. My interest in these topics extends to Korea and Japan as well.

Teaching Philosophy

Interacting with students in a respectful and welcoming way, sharing with them my experiences and insights as they proceed on their life path.

Professional Activities and Affiliations

• Member, The Association for Asian Studies (member since 1964)
• Member, National Committee on United States-China Relations (member since 1969)
• Advisory Board, The Asiatic Society of Japan (member 1989-2018)
• Member (1991-2004), International Advisory Board, LOGOS: The Professional Publishing Journal
• Member, Asian Studies Committee, Suffolk University (2009 - 2020)

Grants, Awards, Honors, and Recognitions

• Appointment as Senior Advisor 高級顧問 to the World Sinology Center 世界漢學中心 organized by the Beijing Language and Culture University 北京語言大學 (2024-2027)

Employment History

• Assistant to the Director, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard (2000 – 2003)
• Assistant Director, The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard (2003 – 2009)
• Director, Rosenberg Institute for East Asian Studies, Suffolk University Boston (2009 – Present)
• Professor of History, Suffolk University Boston (2009 – Present)

Recent Scholarly Contributions

• Suleski, R. (2025). Perspective: Thoughts on a Japanese Language Book Manchukuo and the Japanese people, based on the book Manshū no Nihonjin 満洲の日本人 (The Japanese in Manchuria). Publishing Research, 4, e001. 
• Suleski, R., & Lee, J. (2025). Calling on the Perfect Warrior: An Emotional Plea for Help. Journal of Daoist Studies, 18, 132-155.
• Suleski, R. (2024). Seventy-two ways of saving lives: Folk remedies in old China (With a Foreword by Shigehisa Kuriyama at Harvard University). Chinese University Press.
• Suleski, R. (2021). Tales of opening Manchuria. In J. Henshaw, C. A. Smith, & N. Smith (Eds.), Translating the Occupation: The Japanese Invasion of China, 1931-1945 (pp. 19-38). University of British Columbia Press.
• Suleski, R. (2018). Daily Life for the Common People of China, 1850-1950: Understanding chaoben culture. Brill Publishers.

Education

• PhD, University of Michigan (Major Field: Modern Chinese History)
• MA, Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan (Thesis: Early Modern China: Two Studies)
• BA in Anthropology & East Asian Studies, University of Pittsburgh (cum laude)