Meet the Director

Julia Bullock, professor of Japanese language and literature for Emory College of Arts and Sciences, was named director of the Halle Institute for Global Research in 2023. She specializes in modern Japanese literature from the Meiji period (beginning 1868) to the present.

Dr. Bullock has a distinguished academic career and has contributed significantly to the field of gender studies, particularly in Japan and globally. Her research and publications explore aspects of gender, sexuality and feminism, offering valuable insights into these critical areas of study. She is highly regarded and actively involved in international scholarly organizations across East Asia, Europe and North America, showcasing her commitment to global engagement.

Prior to her appointment as director of the Halle Institute, Dr. Bullock served as the chair of Emory’s Department of Russian and East Asian Languages and Cultures. In this role, she led various initiatives aimed at enhancing the department’s curriculum and strengthening Emory’s engagement in Asia. Notably, she collaborated with external foundations to secure resources, resulting in the creation of new faculty positions at Emory. Her efforts have played a vital role in expanding the university’s academic offerings and advancing its connections with international partners.

She is the author of The Other Women's Lib: Gender and Body in Japanese Women's Fiction and Coeds Ruining the Nation: Women, Education, and Social Change in Postwar Japanese Media, as well as co-editor of Rethinking Japanese Feminisms. She is currently working on a book tentatively titled Beauvoir in Japan: Postwar Japanese Feminism and The Second Sex.