Who I am & Philosophy

I believe that everyone is a storyteller. Each of us shapes our lives through the narratives we create, and those stories, in turn, reflect who we are. My own journey has been shaped by constant reflection on questions of identity—who I am, how I am represented, and how I connect with others. These reflections pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, to study abroad, and to explore new ways of understanding people and societies.

Along this path, I have moved across disciplines—from sociology to data science to communication—constantly seeking new tools and perspectives. This interdisciplinary journey reflects not only my intellectual curiosity but also my flexibility, positivity, and growth-oriented mindset.

Research and Academic Path

This commitment to questions of identity and representation naturally led me to study digital media as a storytelling medium. My research examines how digital platforms shape self-presentation, political engagement, and public health discourse, with a particular focus on how stories circulate in multimodal forms such as language, images, and sounds.

My interdisciplinary background makes me a versatile mixed-methods researcher. I combine qualitative approaches with computational techniques, and my proficiency in R and Python allows me to analyze large-scale datasets while maintaining a critical, human-centered perspective. Trained first as a sociologist, I bring to my work a commitment to understanding both individuals and the collectives they form. This perspective grounds my computational and qualitative approaches, reminding me that behind every dataset are human stories and social complexities.

Collaboration, Leadership, and Service

Beyond my research, I brought resilience, openness, and a collaborative spirit to my work. I began my collaborations at the Computational Media Lab at Yonsei University under the guidance of Dr. Sang Yup Lee, continued at the Computational Media Lab at UT Austin with Dr. Dhiraj Murthy, and have worked with the Digital Media Research Program (DMRP) led by Dr. Tom Johnson.

I also served as an Assistant Editor for Big Data & Society, where I assigned reviewers to submitted articles, provided recommendations to co-editors on potential desk rejections, and promoted newly published work on X. In that role, I co-organized and chaired the 2024 Big Data & Society Colloquium on Politics, Power, and Data. In addition, I have served as Communication Chair and Research Chair in the Journalism Graduate Student Council (JGSC) at UT Austin, roles that allowed me to build bridges and foster dialogue within our academic community.

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching is a central part of my academic journey, and I see the classroom as a space where stories are shared and reshaped. As a teaching assistant, I have supported courses such as Digital Media Storytelling, Social Media Journalism, and True Crime Podcasts. These experiences have shown me how students bring their own narratives into the classroom, and how powerful it can be when those narratives meet new tools, methods, and critical perspectives.

My teaching philosophy centers on helping students find joy in learning and, through that joy, build self-efficacy. I aim to cultivate critical thinking skills that allow them to question assumptions, engage deeply with media, and tell stories that matter. Just as I have benefited from the guidance of inspiring mentors, I hope to extend this cycle of learning by fostering supportive, engaging, and collaborative classrooms of my own.

Life Beyond the Desk

Outside academia, I find balance through movement and care. I am an avid runner and swimmer, often dedicating each quarter to a new athletic pursuit.

I also enjoy growing plants—including jalapeños, scallions, and a pothos gifted by my advisor—that keep me grounded. For me, these practices are ways of centering my life and sustaining curiosity in all its forms.

As someone whose hometown lies across the Pacific, I have inevitably become a worldwide traveler. Travel is both a necessity and a joy, and I am always drawn to places where I can be close to nature. Whether running along a shoreline, hiking through mountains, or simply pausing in a quiet garden, I find that these experiences renew my perspective and connect back to the curiosity that drives my research!