Michael Aung-Thwin

Michael Arthur Aung-Thwin (1946 – August 14, 2021) was a Burmese American historian and emeritus professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, specializing in early Southeast Asian and Burmese history.^[1]

Michael Aung-Thwin
Born	1946 (1946) Rangoon, Burma
Died	14 August 2021 (2021-08-15) (aged 74) Hawaii, United States
Occupation	Historian
Title	Emeritus Professor of Asian History
Spouse	Maria Aung-Thwin
Children	Maitrii, Amita
Academic background
Alma mater	Doane College University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Michigan
Academic work
Discipline	Southeast Asian History
Institutions	University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Early life and education

Aung-Thwin was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Yangon, Myanmar) in 1946. Aung-Thwin's mother, Margaret Hope Aung-Thwin, of mixed Anglo-Burmese, Karen, and Arakanese descent, was a Fulbright scholar and lecturer.^[2][3] He attended Kodaikanal International School in South India, where his mother taught.^[1] He earned a bachelor of arts degree at Doane College in 1969, followed by a master of arts degree at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1971, and a PhD at the University of Michigan.^[1]

Academic career

Aung-Thwin held academic posts at Elmira College, Kyoto University, Northern Illinois University, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He served as the Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.^[1] In 2018, he was awarded the George E. Bogaars endowed professorship at NUS.^[4]

Death

Aung-Thwin died at his home in Hawaii on August 14, 2021, after a long illness.^[5]

Publications

• Pagan: The Origins of Modern Burma (1985)
• Myth & history in the historiography of early Burma (1998)
• The Mists of Ramanna: The Legend that was Lower Burma (2005)^[6]
• A History of Myanmar Since Ancient Times: Traditions and Transformations (2013)^[6]
• Myanmar in the Fifteenth Century: A Tale of Two Kingdoms (2017)

Personal life

Aung-Thwin was married to Maria, and had two children, Maitrii and Amita.^[1] Maitrii Aung-Thwin is a Burmese American historian and professor at NUS.^[7]

References

1. "In Memoriam". Department of Asian Studies. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
2. "Margaret Aung-Thwin" (PDF). BULLETIN OF THE BURMA STUDIES GROUP. 2011.
3. "Paid Notice: Deaths AUNG, THWIN, MARGARET HOPE". New York Times. April 17, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
4. "UH professor to share Asian studies expertise in Singapore". University of Hawaiʻi System News. August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
5. Admin (August 30, 2021). "Remembering Michael Aung-Thwin, 1946–2021". Department of Asian Studies. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
6. "Michael Aung-Thwin". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
7. "MAITRII V. AUNG-THWIN – FASS Staff Profile". profile.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved August 19, 2022.