Kwok Kian-Woon received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley. He is Head of the Sociology Division and Associate Provost (Student Life) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His teaching and research interests concern the historical and comparative understanding of modern social transformation and contemporary social change. His focus has been on the study of Chinese societies, American society and Southeast Asian societies, especially Singapore. His publications include numerous co-edited books, journal articles and book chapters on Singapore society, the Chinese Overseas, cultural policy and the arts, social memory, and mental health.