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Featured Student: October 2009

Jihyun Kim

After experiencing the “friendly atmosphere and great support” of the UWM Department of Communication as a master’s student, Jihyun Kim decided to pursue her Ph.D. here as well. The admiration is apparently mutual, as the department awarded Kim the 2009 Mel Miller Award for Service, in recognition of her work with the local Korean community. Jihyun was a Korean language teacher at the Korean Language & Culture School of Milwaukee for more than two years.

Jihyun’s community service hasn’t come at the expense of academic performance. While at UWM she has won two Chancellor’s Graduate Student Awards, an International Communication Association Award for Outstanding Teaching, and an award from the John Paul Jones Memorial Trust.

Jihyun, who has shifted her research focus for her Ph.D. from intercultural communication to technology and health communication, is involved in several research projects, and will present several manuscripts at conferences this fall.

1) How would you describe your field of study/research to a friend who is not in your graduate program?

In general, I would like to say that communication is the study of human behavior. It is the study of analyzing human communication behavior and helping people communicate more effectively in many different settings, such as interpersonal, intercultural, organizational, group, and rhetorical settings.

2) What brought you to UWM for your graduate studies?

I was very fortunate to be able to start my graduate student life here at UWM. I started with the M.A. program, and I really enjoyed the friendly atmosphere, great support and the excellent education system in our department. So, during the 2nd year of my M.A., I applied for the PhD. Thankfully, I got accepted and was able to continue my education. I am very grateful for the support that I hve been receiving.

3) What's been your best experience so far?

Of the so many great experiences, one of the best is definitely teaching opportunities. Thankfully, I have received a teaching assistantship since I started my graduate program. This helps me to better understand different cultural communication behaviors. Also, it helps me to develop better communication skills in educational settings based on both the students’ and teacher’s perspective. Teaching requires a lot of time and effort. Sometimes, it can be a challenge to make the balance between my studies and teaching (lesson plans). But it is definitely worth it.

4) If you were able to merge another discipline with yours, what would that be and why?

I guess health psychology and social psychology. Particularly, health psychology offers a good guideline for understanding health belief, its management, and promotion. I think this aspect nicely fits into the study of health communication.

5) What is your favorite stress-reduction activity?

I love going for a walk. Whenever I get stressed out, I go outside and walk along the lake for about 30 minutes. But, I live in Wisconsin! If the weather does not allow it, I go to the gym. Then drink coffee! This helps me a lot to relieve stress!

6) What do you most enjoy about Milwaukee?

I love summer in Milwaukee. Several festivals with a mild temperature make the city so enjoyable. Also, I feel so blessed that I live near such a beautiful lake. It changes its color depending on the weather. The beauty of nature!

7) Is there anything that you've had to "give up" as a graduate student?

Absolutely. There are several. But one of the hardest things for me is being away from my family and friends back home in Korea. Since life as a graduate student is really busy, it is not easy to visit them often.

8) What are your plans for after graduate school?

After getting my degree, I would like to have an opportunity to work as a faculty member at a research-focused university. At some point of my life, I may want to go back to Korea, but I would like to start my career in the States first!

9) What trait do you find most necessary to succeed in graduate school?

Passion, persistence, intrinsic motivation, positive thinking, and stress-management skills

10) Do you have any advice that you would give to a new graduate student in your program?

• Be open-minded. There are many opportunities that can help you with finding your career goals and academic goals.
• Be aware of the amount of time and effort that you should put in. There are times you need to re-organize priorities.
• Have a support system. Emotional support will help you get through.
• Once you enter the program, enjoy the life as a graduate student. Make the best out of it!