SMU Assistant Professor of Asian Studies Hoon Chang Yau argues for the need to move away from an essentialist view of identity to one that is aligned with the complexities of the 21st century. From the time he was an undergraduate student in Australia, Assistant Prof Hoon had always been fascinated by the concept of “the other” and how it relates to identity. Indeed, his research interests – the Chinese diaspora; contemporary Indonesia; identity and cultural politics; ethnic and racial studies; and multicultural education and religion – are all related in some way to identity and minority issues. True to his calling, Assistant Prof Hoon’s passion for understanding minority issues has seen him taking on the role as a founding member of the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion at SMU. Formally established at the start of 2013, the committee seeks to ensure that the university accommodates people across all spectrums, whether their difference is in terms of disability, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.