Overview

My approach to teaching is to guide my students to lean into their own motivation, curiosity, and growth for knowledge of the field. Through my own research in higher education, I became acutely aware of the significant impact that one professor’s compassionate teaching can have on students. Over 100 interviews and focus group discussions with college students informed me that a professor recognizing the students’ priorities and making oneself available for students are so important to create conducive learning environment.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy revolves around fostering a student-centered learning environment. To achieve this, I prioritize creating a welcoming, supportive, and encouraging classroom atmosphere. This commitment is reflected in various aspects of my teaching, including course design, syllabus development, classroom instruction, and communication methods. In order to ensure that I meet the needs and expectations of my students, I employ several strategies throughout the teaching process. These include:

• Pre-Class Assessments: Prior to the start of the course, I conduct assessments to understand students’ prerequisites and prior knowledge. This helps me tailor the course content to their needs.
• In-Class Feedback: During the course, I regularly gather feedback from students through methods such as mid-quarter/semester feedback surveys and exit slips. This allows me to gauge their learning experiences and collect suggestions for improvement.
• Flexible Office Hours: I offer flexible office hours using scheduling software like Calendly. This ensures that students have convenient access to me for questions, discussions, or additional support.
• By integrating these practices into my teaching approach, I aim to create an inclusive and effective learning environment where students can thrive and achieve their educational goals.

Teaching Experience

I started my teaching career in 2008 as an instructor at the Korean Center in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I provided one-on-one instructions and taught Korean Political Geography and Economics to undergraduate and graduate students in both Korean and English. As an instructor, I reviewed students understanding on course assignments and led discussions about the particular topic on a weekly basis. I taught students understand social, cultural, political issues in South Korea and provided feedback on their Korean writing.

In 2013, I served as a teaching assistant at the College of Medicine, Seoul National University, South Korea. The course, titled “Public Health Policy – Implementation on Appropriate Medical Technologies in Resource-Limited Settings,” was designed to offer global health policy training to medical students and clinical care providers. During this role, I contributed to the development of lecture slides, which were based on the book “Access: How do Good Health Technologies Get to Poor People in Poor Countries?” (Harvard Series on Population and International Health, 2009 edition). Additionally, I had the privilege of hosting Dr. Reich, the author of the book, as a guest lecturer. Throughout the course, students explored the framework of healthcare access in the context of global health. This involved examining factors related to availability, affordability, and adoption. To facilitate their understanding, students were organized into groups, and each group conducted case analyses and presented their findings in the classroom.

During my time at UCLA from 2022 to 2024, I taught first-year M.P.H. students, with each class comprising around 50~60 students divided into smaller discussion sections of 16~30. My role involved leading weekly discussion sections as a sole instructor, grading assignments, offering feedback, conducting office hours, promoting inclusive education, and participating in departmental meetings. These foundational courses played a vital role in imparting fundamental public health knowledge to all incoming students. Recognizing the diverse range of health interests among students, often influenced by their personal experiences, I adopted a tailored approach. This involved aligning assignments, discussions, and examples with their individual passions. This approach significantly bolstered student engagement and skill development, enhancing the overall learning experience.

The recognition of receiving the Best Teaching Assistant Award in 2023 underscores my unwavering commitment, effectiveness, and excellence in teaching, as well as my dedication to optimizing the learning journeys of my students. Consistently, both students and faculty have provided positive feedback, citing my ability to clarify complex concepts as a key strength.

Teaching Records

• Spring 2024. TA. Program Evaluation and Research in Community Health Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• 2/29/2024. Guest Lecture. Policy and Public Health Approaches to Violence Prevention, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Winter 2024. TA. Program Planning and Research in Community Health Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Fall, 2023. TA. Introduction to Community Health Sciences. UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Spring 2023. TA. Program Evaluation and Research in Community Health Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Winter 2023. TA. Program Planning and Research in Community Health Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Fall, 2022. TA. Introduction to Community Health Sciences. UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
• Fall, 2013. TA. Public Health Policy – Implementation on Appropriate Medical Technologies in resource-limited settings, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
• Fall, 2008. Course Tutor. Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI

Teaching Interest

I have a broad set of teaching interest and am willing to teach courses than extend beyond my core research focus on violence, substance use, reproductive health, maternal and child health, and sexually transmitted diseases. Below is a sample of the courses that I am interested in teaching:

• Community Health Sciences
• Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation
• Research Methodology
• Maternal and Child Health
• Reproductive Health and Community Health

Links to Resources

• Mentor/Mentee Responsibilities: Compact between graduate students and thier research advisors, AAMC
  • Example compact
• Responsible Publication and Authorship: Recommendations for Promoting Integrity in Scientific Journal Publications, Council of Science Editors