Professional Scope
PSU is home to a large and diverse community of Asian and Asian American students, and the Institute for Asian Studies (IAS) is the only unit at the university dedicated specifically to promoting knowledge and understanding of Asia and Asian and Asian American Studies. As Director of the IAS, my work is centered on three primary areas: (1) providing educational opportunities for students, faculty, and the broader community through a series of guest lectures and public programs; (2) supporting affiliated faculty and students whose academic interests and scholarship focus on Asia and Asian and Asian American Studies; and (3) collaborating with community partners to increase the visibility of and awareness of Asian and Asian American cultures and their contributions to our broader community.
My research centers on status attainment, such as education, work, and family, and its associations to health and well-being over the life course, concerning people in the US as well as those in Korea. I recently published an edited volume, Korean Families Yesterday and Today (2020, University of Michigan Press), and my other work has appeared in a number of journals, including Society and Mental Health, Sociological Perspectives, Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychology Sciences and Social Sciences, and Medical Care. My current research includes projects looking at: (1) family structures and well-being of young generations; (2) multifaceted aspects of education in contemporary Korea; and (3) current issues and implications of multicultural families in Korea.
How I Can Help
- Provide support to students interested in Asian and Asian American Studies with lectures and networking opportunities, a scholarship, and community engagement opportunities
- Provide informal mentoring opportunities by connecting with our affiliate faculty members
Global and Cultural Engagement
- Languages Spoken: English, Korean (birth language)
- Global Experience: I maintain a wide range of networks with scholars of Asian and Asian American Studies globally