Research Committee

Dr. Samuel Y. Kim is an Associate Professor at Texas Woman's University where he trains students in the field of School Psychology. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Emory University and his Ph.D. from Georgia State University. In addition to being a Licensed Psychologist and a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, he has worked in a variety of settings such as schools, community mental health clinics, and university clinics in Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, and Texas and provided a range of psychological services, including counseling, assessment, and consultation. His research interests include positive psychology, psychological measurement, bullying, and Korean American mental health.

Dr. Shengtian Wu received his training in the school psychology program from Mississippi State University’s APA Accredited and NASP-approved program. He completed his internship at Boys Town. He finished his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah school psychology program. His research interests include academic interventions, applied behavior analysis in school and clinic settings, multiculturalism, school consultation, and international school psychology. He supervised graduate students to consult with schools regarding Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports as well as tiered mental health services. Dr. Wu is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Jiwon was born and raised in Daejeon, South Korea. She holds a MEd in International Education Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research interest lies in the social-emotional wellbeing of immigrants and refugees, understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by these populations. Currently based in Bogotá, Colombia, Jiwon hopes to bring a global perspective to her work, leveraging her international experiences to contribute meaningfully to the field. She desires to support in creating a positive impact on the lives of individuals across diverse cultural backgrounds.

Jung Hwa was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She received her B.A. in Education from Yonsei University, and she is currently a doctoral candidate in Human Development and Quantitative Methods at the University of Pennsylvania. Her primary research interests center on the socioemotional development of Asian/Asian American children, investigating how individual factors and contextual factors, both independently and conjointly, influence developmental outcomes. In her free time, she loves to travel and take a walk with her husband and son.

Nari is a PhD candidate at NYU's Silver School of Social Work. Her research has a dual focus: understanding community-level dynamics and harnessing technological advancements to enhance the well-being of racial/ethnic minorities and immigrants in both the U.S. and Asia. Her long-term objective is to create technology-assisted and/or community-based interventions that provide culturally and linguistically relevant services. Outside of her research, she immerses herself in cross-cultural experiences through travel, books, and thought-provoking documentaries.

Jung Yun earned a B.S. in Human Development at Cornell University and M.S.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She also holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology in Educational Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Jung Yun’s research interest lies at the intersection of a sense of purpose, culture, and religiosity and its influence on mental health among Asian and Asian Americans. She has experience in mentoring and teaching low-income ethnic minority children, adolescents, and young adults through community services and ministries. She ultimately desires to develop culturally informed prevention and intervention programs to promote the holistic well-being of marginalized populations.

Esther was born in Korea and has lived in NY, LA, and OK. She holds double BAs in psychology and history and an education studies certificate from Yale University. Her research interests center around human development, ranging from childhood to young adulthood, in relation to academic and behavioral outcomes. She currently works at Yale as a psychology postgraduate research associate and also spends her free time working with the Fair Opportunity Project to improve college accessibility. Outside of work, she loves to take care of her plants and watch movies.

Soe Young is a doctoral student in the Applied Human Development program at BU Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. Her research interests lie in positive youth development, critical consciousness, teaching and parenting practices, and ethnic-racial identity development. Following her passion for empowering youths in marginalized populations, she hopes to identify ways to foster resilience and purpose in young people and help them develop agency and a voice in their community.