CV

Books

• The Language of Blood. Cloth edition from Borealis Books, Fall 2003. Paperback edition from Graywolf Press of St. Paul, Summer 2005. “피의 언어” (Korean edition) Y-Gelli Books of Seoul, Summer 2005. Trans. Jay Pyong Song.
• Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption. Co-edited with Julia Chinyere Oparah and Sun Yung Shin. South End Press, November 2006.
• Fugitive Visions. Graywolf Press, July 2009. Korean edition forthcoming from Changbi.

Awards

• Asian American Writer’s Workshop Long List in Non-Fiction for Fugitive Visions, Fall 2010.
• Korea Publication Ethics Commission Selection in Literature, Fall 2005.
• Loft-McKnight Artist Fellowship, 2005.
• Loft Career Initiative grant, 2005.
• Minnesota Book Award, Autobiography/Memoir, 2004.
• Minnesota Book Award, New Voice, 2004.
• Best Book by a Local Author, City Pages selection 2004.
• Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, Fall 2003.
• Jerome Foundation Travel & Study Grant, 2003.
• Blacklock Nature Sanctuary Fellowship, 2003.
• Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship, 2002.
• Brenda Ueland Prose Prize (Honorable Mention) Water~Stone 2002.
• SASE: The Write Place Fellowship, 2001.
• Loft Creative Non-fiction Mentorship, 2001.

Short publications

• 2011/10/28 – Pressian -노무현 ‘깨어있는 시민 정신’이 아동 인권에도

  2011/10/14 – Hankyoreh -Shifting National Interests to Meet Children’s Best Interests

• Internationally Adopted Koreans and the Movement to Revise the Korean Adoption Law, Ewha University Gender Law Journal, May 2011.
• 입양허가제 도입이 올바른 방향, 조선일보, 2010년10월 25일
• “A Call for Accountability,” PBS POV, Sept. 14, 2010.
• “아무도 관심이 없는 20만 개의 꼬리표” 대산문화, 2010 가을호 Vol. 37
• “Standing on Common Ground,” Foreword to Aeranwon 50th anniversary book, Summer 2010.
• 美 어머니들에게 나쁜 것이 韓 어머니에겐 좋다? 프레시안, 서울, 2010/5/10
• “왜 브란젤리나 커플은 美 아동은 입양하지 않나” 프레시안, 서울, 2010/5/9
• 전제희 장관, 직원 미팅 주선하면 출산율 올라가나요? 프레시안, 서울, 2010/5/7
• Structural Violence, Social Death, and International Adoption,Conducive Chronicle Four-part series, March 19, 2010.
• Book review of Joe Soll’s Adoption Healing, Korean Adoption Studies Journal, April 2010, ed. Kim Su Rasmussen, published by GOAL.
• 더 이상 해외입양을 보낼 만큼 가난하지 않다 Pressian, Seoul, Nov. 11, 2009
• “Abuses in adoptions from S. Korea” Conducive Chronicle, Nov. 6,2009.
• “What does ‘Gotcha’ Mean?” Conducive Chronicle, Nov. 3, 2009.
• “Nothing About Us Without Us,” Conducive Chronicle, Oct. 26, 2009.
• “갔다 올께” Pressian, Seoul,  Sept. 28, 2009.
• “Transnational Adoption and ‘The Financialization of Everything,’”Conducive Magazine, Aug/Sept 2009
• Interview and excerpts of Fugitive Visions in Asian American Poetry and Writing, guest ed. Lee Herrick, Fall 2009.
• Excerpts of Fugitive Visions in Korean Adoption Studies Journal, Summer 2009, ed. Kim Su Rasmussen, published by GOAL.
• Various short publications in the OAK of GOAL 2005-2008
• “Korea Continues to Deny Overseas Adoptees Access,” with Jennifer Kwon Dobbs, The Korea Times, July 17, 2009.
• “아기 살 돈으로 친엄마를 지원하라,” 한겨레21, 2009.05.15
• 당신과 함께 지하철을 타는 것이 너무 좋습니다.” Pressian, Seoul, May 5, 2009.
• Foreword to 피부색:꿀 by Jung, Jan. 19, 2009.
• “American adoptive father launches campaign to help unwed Korean moms,” co-authored with Yong-gyo Kim. Yonhap News, June 14, 2007.
• “Adoption and the Law,” with Eleana Kim. GOAL’s OAK magazine, Spring 2007.
• “한국은 여전히 ‘미개한 나라’일비도 모른다” Pressian, Seoul, May 11, 2007.
• “The Foreign Adoption Double-standard,” Minneapolis Star Tribune Commentary, July 19, 2007.
• “A Critical Look at Transracial Adoption“ The OAK, G.O.A.’L Newsletter, Fall 2006.
• “Guide to Adoptees: a Cribsheet for Reunited Korean Families“, The OAK, G.O.A.’L Newsletter, December 2005.
• “Daylight Saving Time Ends,” OKAY Book, 2005 edition, Seoul.
• Sanctuary for folk songs in heart of Seoul, ” with Vincent Sung,Korea Herald, Seoul , November 19, 2005 .
• “Backstage with two prominent SFAA fashion designers,” with Vincent Sung, Korea Herald, Seoul, November 26, 2005.
• “Supply” co-authored with Sun Yung Shin. Xcp 14: Cross Cultural Poetics, Summer 2005.
• “Lost and Found” Speakeasy, St. Paul , MN September 2003.
• “Rebirth, Reverse” Water~Stone, St. Paul , Fall 2002.
• “A Fairy Tale” MN ASAP Family Voices, Spring 2004.
• “Hmong flea market is asset” St. Paul Pioneer Press, co-authored with Sun Yung Shin, Aug 23, 2004.
• “Much at stake in transracial adoptions” with Sun Yung Shin and Kim Park Gregg, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, July 22, 2004.
• “Adoptee reaches for home within” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 5, 2003.

Book Club Selection or Classroom Adoption

The Language of Blood has been adopted for group discussions and high school and university classes such as: Ethnic Studies, American Studies, Asian American Literature, Asian American Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Contemporary American Literature, Women’s Literature, Creative Writing, and Introduction to Literature.

• Purchased by the Korean Army as one of 400 books selected for soldiers (Korean translation). August 2006.
• Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities “Many Voices” Selection, February 2005.
  • University of St. Thomas
  • Macalester College
  • Augsburg College
  • Hamline University
  • College of St. Catherine
• Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, 2004.
• Hampshire College, Amherst , Massachusetts, 2004 .
• Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, 2004.
• Minnesota Library Association “One Conference, One Book” Selection, July 2004.
• Minnesota Women Lawyers Book Club Selection, July 2004
• Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 2004.
• Rasmussen College, Minnesota, 2005
• St. John’s University/College of St. Benedict, Minnesota, 2004.
• St. Olaf College, Minnesota, 2004.
• St. Paul Public Library, March 2004.
• Soongshil Women’s University, Seoul, 2005.
• The State Reader’s Circle Selection, South Carolina, October 2004.
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campuses, 2004.
• University of California Berkeley, Spring 2005.
• Minnesota State University, Mankato, Spring 2005.
• Pasadena City College, California, Spring 2005.
• Metro State University, Minnesota, Fall 2004.
• Raking Through Books selection, Minneapolis, Summer 2005.
• UC Santa Cruz Creative Writing, Fall 2005.
• Ithaca College, Fall 2005.
• The University of Iowa, Fall 2005.
• Mills College, Oakland, Fall 2006.
• Stanford University, Fall 2007.

TV and Radio Appearances (Fall 2003)

• CN8 Comcast Network, “Real Life with Mary Amoroso” New Jersey
• CUNY -TV “Women to Women,” New York.
• FOX News 6, Milwaukee.
• KARE 11, Minneapolis.
• KFAI “Write on Radio,” Minneapolis.
• KFAI, Minneapolis.
• KOPB -Radio “Golden Hours Feature,” Oregon.
• KVON “Morning Edition,” Napa, California .
• Voice of America “Coast to Coast with Rose Styron,” Washington, D.C.
• WBAI, “Cat Radio Café,” New York.
• WBUR -FM “Here and Now,” Boston.
• WGBB-TV and WBGG-Radio, New York.
• WMFG-AM, Hibbing.
• WNYE-FM “Everything Goes,” New York .

More TV and Radio

• 일요일 밤으로 Dec. 6, 2009
• 시사 매거진 2580 Feb 21, 2010
• 그 것이 알고 싶다 719호 2009-06-13
• TBS eFM, Seoul, Feb. 27, 2009
• Minnesota Public Radio, USA, October 2005.
• Weekend America, USA, October 2005.
• American Radio Works, October, 2005.
• CBS Radio, Seoul, July 22, 2005.
• KBS Radio 1, Seoul, July 31, 2005 and August 5, 2005.

U.S. Print Media Features and Interviews

• Visions of culture, identity, Northfield News, by Emily Hartley, Feb. 2, 2010
• Jane Jeong Trenka cautions adoptive parents in new book, MN Post, by Amy Goetzman, Feb. 2, 2010
• An Interview with Jane Jeong Trenka, A View From the Loft, by Jennifer Kwon Dobbs, January 2010.
• On and Beyond Korean Adoption, Influence, and Community, Asian American Poetry and Writing, by Lee Herrick, Fall 2009.
• “Outsiders Within: From a Far Country,” MN Arists.org, by Shannon Gibney, November 9, 2006
• “A Journey to Fill in the Blanks” Los Angeles Times, by Martha Groves December 17, 2004.
• Water~Stone Review by Shannon Fimbel Volume 7 Fall 2004.
• “Bloodlines and Belonging” Riverwest Currents, by Tanya Cromartie-Twaddle, November 2003.
• “Found in Translation” KoreAm, by Kendra Jai Ran Kim, February 2004.
• “Jane Jeong Trenka,” Minneapolis Observer, by Lisa Rodgers Vol. 2. No. 3 March 2005.
• “Korean-born author finds herself after living two lives” The State, by Michelle Whitney Evans, October 5, 2004.
• “Language as lifeline” Korean Quarterly by Martha Vickery, Fall 2003.
• “Move Over, Garrison!” Publishers Weekly by Claire Kirch, October 27, 2003.
• “Seoul Journey” Minnesota Parent, by Julie Pfitzinger November 2003.
• “Thicker than water” St. Paul Pioneer Press and Duluth News Tribune, by Ellen Tomson, September 28, 2003.
• “Why are we here?” City Pages, by Terri Sutton, October 15, 2003.

Korean print media

• “입양아 상처 어루만져 주세요” … 입양아 출신 작가 제인 트렌카 씨, Atlanta 중앙 일보 Feb. 21, 2010
• 미혼모 지원 해외입양인 모임 ‘TRACK,‘ Women’s News Dec. 24, 2009.
• “해외 입양인 단체 TRACK 이끄는 제인 정 트렌카,” 미즈 내일, 장헌주 기자, June 2009.
• “Returned adoptee and birthmothers start drive for 1 million signatures,” Hankyoreh, August 2, 2007.
• “Adoptee seeks to end overseas adoptions,” JoongAng Daily, August 4, 2007.
• Kookmin Ilbo, November 8, 2006
• Chubu Saenghwal, September 2006
• Vogue Korea 10th Anniversary book. August 2006.
• Chol News, July 26, 2006
• Hankyoreh, July 18, 2005
• Women’s Newspaper May 12, 2006
• Yonhap News, May 8, 2006
• Joongang Ilbo, May 3, 2006
• Vogue Korea, September 2005
• “Korean Adoptee’s Memoir Published,” The Korea Times, by Park Chung-a, July 15, 2005.
• Yonhap News, October 14, 2004
• Lady Kyeonghyang, November 2004
• Yeoseong Joongang, October 2004
• Sa Vie, October 2004
• The Woman Times, September 21, 2004

Book Reviews of The Language of Blood (cloth edition)

• Adoptive Families Magazine, 2004.
• Asian Week, November 7, 2003.
• Audrey Magazine, December 2003/January 2004.
• Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers, Fall 2003.
• Booklist, September 15, 2003.
• City Pages, April 28, 2004.
• FCC Southern California newsletter Spring 2004.
• KoreAm Journal, February 2004.
• Korean Quarterly, Fall 2003.
• Lansing Noise, November 3, 2004.
• Los Angeles Times, November 26, 2003
• Midwest Living Magazine, June 2004.
• Minneapolis Star Tribune, September 7, 2003.
• Minnesota Monthly, October 2003.
• Pacific Reader, Volume 15 No. 2, 2004.
• Publishers Weekly, October 27, 2003.
• The Corresponder, Fall 2004.
• Virginia Quarterly Review, Spring 2004.

Readings & lectures (partial listing)

• A Room of One’s Own, Madison October 22, 2003.
• AK Connection mini-gathering , Minneapolis, Fall 2003.
• Also Known As, New York, Fall 2003.
• Amazon Bookstore, Minneapolis October 9, 2003.
• Augsburg College, various events throughout 2003-2005.
• Banfille-Locke Center for the Arts, Fridley, January 9, 2004.
• Barnes and Noble Blaine October 26, 2003.
• Barnes and Noble Eden Prairie October 21, 2003.
• Barnes and Noble in Duluth October 19, 2003.
• Blacklock Nature Sanctuary, May 2004 .
• Bound to Be Read Books, Saint Paul, October 14, 2003.
• Brandeis University, Massachusetts, March 2004.
• Dakota County Public Library, April 6, 2005.
• Ewha Women’s University, Seoul . October 19, 2005.
• Global Overseas Adoptees’ Link (GOAL), Seoul, numerous times 2005-present.
• Hennepin County Library, March 15, 2005.
• Hamline University MFA program, 2004, 2005.
• Harry Schwartz Bookshop, Milwaukee, October 6, 2003.
• Housing Works Used Book Cafe, New York, November 10, 2003.
• IKAA Gathering, Seoul, August 2007.
• KGB Bar, New York, November 11, 2003.
• Korean Adoptees Adoptive Family Network, San Francisco, July 2004.
• Korean Women’s Development Institute, Seoul, April 30, 2009.
• KoRoot, Seoul, Korea, October 16, 2004; July 7, 2005.
• Kyung Hee University, Seoul, March 11, 2009.
• Mankato State University, April 28, 2005.
• Soongshil Women’s University, Seoul, November 9, 2005.
• Southwest Minnesota State University, April 20, 2005.
• St. Olaf College, Northfield, March 2004.
• St. Paul Public Library, December 4, 2004.
• The Loft Literary Center, various readings 2001-2005.
• University of Minnesota campuses, throughout 2004 and 2005.
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, various times 2003-2005.
• University of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul, various times 2003-2005.
• University of Wisconsin, River Falls October 10, 2003.
• University of Wisconsin, River Falls, 2004.
• Vook’s, Seoul, Insadong, July 19, 2005.
• Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, October 2002.
• Winona State University, 2005 .
• Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison, 2003.

Teaching Experience

• SASE: The Write Place Mentor, March-May 2005.
• Visiting Writer, Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (Macalester College, Augsburg College, Hamline University, College of St. Catherine, and the University of St. Thomas) February 14-18, 2005. Click here for online resources used for Augsburg’s Many Voices project.
• Visiting Writer, Hendrix College, Arkansas, February 6-8 2005.
• Visiting Writer, Rasmussen College, Minnesota, May 4-5, and 10, 2005.

Panelist/judge

• Panelist, IKAA Conference, Seoul, July 2007.
• Panelist, 2007 Conference of Korean Association for Feminist Studies in English Literature, Korea University, Anam-dong, Seoul, Korea, June 9. “Toward an Imaginative Feminism.”
• Panelist, Korean National Assembly forum on overseas adoption. November 23, 2005.
• Featured author in “Author! Author!” online program, Hennepin County Library, March 2005.
• Panelist, “Diasporic Cartographies,” Women’s Worlds 2005: 9th International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women, Seoul, Korea . June 19-24, 2005.
• Judge, Blacklock Nature Sanctuary awards, 2004.
• Panelist, “Racism” KAAN Conference, San Francisco, July 2004
• Judge, Hamline University MFA thesis awards, 2004.
• Panelist, “Adoption Tales and Topics” EQS conference for University of Minnesota Libraries, April 27, 2004.
• Judge, Loft Mentorship Awards, preliminary round, 2003.
• Panelist, Cultural Sensitivity Workshop, Korean Institute of Minnesota, November 2001.

Volunteer

• TRACK (Truth and Reconciliation for the Adoptoin Community of Korea), 2008-present. President, 2009-present.
• GOAL Journal of Korean Adoption Studies, Editorial Board, 2009-present.
• KoRoot Advisory Committee, 2005-present.
• Loft Literary Center LEAP Committee, 2002-2004.
• Howe Community School Leadership Team, 2000-2001.
• Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Virginia Piper Cancer Institute, 2000-2001.
• The Schubert Club, piano instructor 1995-1996.

Education

• Piano Performance, The Chautauqua Institute, New York, 1996.
• Double major: BA, English Literature; BM, Piano Performance,Augsburg College, 1995. Graduated magna cum laude; Alpha Chi Honor Society.