Research Committee

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.

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.