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About Us

Our Story

Founded in 1986, the Korean American University Professors Association (KAUPA) was established to:

​​

(1) encourage and facilitate academic research and scholarly cooperation among members;

(2) facilitate academic and social exchange of scholars between North America and Korea;

(3) sponsor programs for its members; and

(4) award scholarships to Korean American and Korean Canadian students.

Leadership

Dr. Seok Kang

Interim President

U of Texas, San Antonio

seok.kang@utsa.edu

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Executive Committee, Officers and Regional Leaders

Office
Name
Affiliation
Specialty/Expertise
e-mail
Interim President
Seok Kang
Univ. of Texas, San Antonio
Digital Communication
seok.kang@utsa.edu
Operations
Hannah Lee
Indiana University, Northwest
Psychology
lee907@iu.edu
Financial
Bomi Kang
Coastal Carolina University
Hospitality / Business Administration
bkang@coastal.edu
Planning
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
shwang@semo.edu
Membership
Wookjae Heo
Purdue University
Financial Counseling
heo28@purdue.edu
Academic
Wooyang Kim
Minnesota State University, Moorehead
Business Administration
wooyang.kim@mnstate.edu
Scholarship
Jung C Lee
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Bioinformatics
lee@msoe.edu
Webmaster
Hannah Sions
James Madison University
Art Education
sionshk@jmu.edu
Technology
Yoon G Kim
Cal Poly Humboldt
Statistics
ygk1@humboldt.edu
Editor in Chief
Young B Choi
Regent University
Computer & Telecommunication Networking
ychoi@regent.edu
Associate EIC
John J Han
Missouri Baptist University
English & Creative Writing
John.Han@mobap.edu
Associate EIC
"Leo" Jangwoon Lee
Univ. of Mary Washington
Mathematics
llee3@umw.edu
Editor
Lea Lee
Old Dominion University
Literacy Education
lxlee@odu.edu
Northwest Region
Southwest Region
North Central Region
Wooyang Kim
Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
Business Administration
wooyang.kim@mnstate.edu
South Central Region
Northeast Region
Woo Shik Shin
Northeast Ohio Medical Univ.
Biology & Drug Design
wshin@neomed.edu
Southeast Region
Bomi Kang
Coastal Carolina University
Hospitality / Business Administration
bkang@coastal.edu
East Central Region
Jung-Lim Lee
Delaware State University
Food Microbiology
jlee@desu.edu
West Central Region
Canada West Region
Canada East Region

Specialty Leaders

Specialty
Name
Affiliation
e-mail
Agriculture
Anthropology
Arts
Taehee Kim
Sam Houston State University, TX
thkim@shsu.edu
Business
Hyuna Park
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, NY
hyuna.park38@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Dentistry
Mary Kang
New York University College of Dentistry, NY
marykang@nyu.edu
Education
Engineering
Woo Hyoung Lee
University of Central Florida, FL
woohyoung.lee@ucf.edu
Hospitality & Tourism
Bomi Kang
Carolina State University, SC
bkang@coastal.edu
Human Ecology
Jung-lim Lee
Delaware State University, DE
jlee@desu.edu
Law & Politics
Letters & Science
Kyongseon Jeon
Columbus State University, GA
jeon_kyongseon@columbusstate.edu
Life Science
Mathematics
Jangwoon Leo Lee
University of Mary Washington
Medicine
Music
Ryu-Kyung Kim
University of Dayton, OH
rkim03@udayton.edu
Nursing
Chin S. Park
New York University, Rory Meyers College of Nursing
cp116@nyu.edu
Pharmacy
Public Affairs
Public Health
Sociology
Angie Y. Chung
University at Albany, SUNY, NY
aychung@albany.edu
Statistics
Veterinary Medicine

Past Presidents

Munsup Seoh

Young B Choi

Jae K Park

K Wayne Lee

Sunwoong Kim

Nak Ho Sung

14th President

Regent University

ychoi@regent.edu

13th President

U of Wisconsin-Madison

jkpark@wisc.edu

12th President

U of Rhode Island

leekw@uri.edu

11th President

U of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

kim@uwm.edu

10th President

Tufts University

nsung@tufts.edu

15th President

Wright State University

munsup.seoh@wright.edu

Yoon-Shik Park

9th President

George Washington U

yspark@gwu.edu

H Thomas Hahn

Hang Yul Rhee

Youn-Suk Kim

Ki-Hyon Kim

Eui Hang Shin

8th President

UCLA

hahn@seas.ucla.edu

7th President

Shephered U

hangyulrhee@yahoo.com

6th President

Kean University

kim@uwm.edu

5th President

North Carolina Central U

4th President

U of South Carolina

​

Thomas Yun Kim

Tae-Hwan Kwak

Seong Hyong Lee

3rd President

Utah State U

2nd President

Eastern Kentucky U​

thkwak@hotmail.com

1st President

Appalachian State U

1st~15th Leadership (1986~2024)

Period
Office
Name
Affiliation
Specialty/Expertise
15th Leadership
President (2024)
Munsup Seoh
Wright State University
Statistics
(2024-2025)
Vice (2024)/Interim (2025) President
Seok Kang
Univ. of Texas, San Antonio
Digital Communication
Operations
Hannah Lee
Indiana University, Northwest
Psychology
Interim Financial
Sylvia Kim
Fresno Pacific University
Accounting
Interim Treasurer
Moon-Sook Park
University of Arkansas
Music, Soprano
Planning
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
Membership
Wookjae Heo
Purdue University
Financial Counseling
Academic
"Sunny" SeongHee Jeong
Wittenberg University
Business & Economics
Scholarship
Jung C Lee
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Bioinformatics
Webmaster
Hannah Sions
James Madison University
Art Education
Technology
Yoon G Kim
Cal Poly Humboldt
Statistics
Editor in Chief
Young B Choi
Regent University
Computer & Telecom Networking
Associate EIC
John J Han
Missouri Baptist University
English & Creative Writing
Associate EIC
"Leo" Jangwoon Lee
Univ. of Mary Washington
Mathematics
Editor
Lea Lee
Old Dominion University
Literacy Education
North Central Region
Wooyang Kim
Minnesota State Univ., Moorhead
Business Administration
Northeast Region
Woo Shik Shin
Northeast Ohio Medical Univ.
Biology & Drug Design
Southeast Region
Bomi Kang
Coastal Carolina University
Hospitality & Tourism Management
East Central Region
Jung-Lim Lee
Delaware State University
Food Microbiology
Period
Office
Name
Affiliation
Specialty/Expertise
14th Leadership
President
Young B Choi
Regent University
Computer Networking & Telecommunication Networking
(2020-2023)
First Vice President
Youngsuck Kim;
Mansfield U. of Penn.;
Music;
Munsup Seoh
Wright State University
Statistics
Second Vice President & Academic
Seok Kang
Univ. of Texas, San Antonio
Digital Communication
Secretary General & Operations
"Tom" Tae Oh
Rochester Institute of Technology
Information Technology
Financial
Yanghee Kim;
Northern Illinois Univ.;
Education;
Sylvia Kim
Fresno Pacific University
Accounting
Planning
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
Membership & Technology
Munsup Seoh
Wright State University
Statistics
Assistant Membership
Jinho Kim
Univ. of Houston, Downtown
Information Technology
Scholarship
Jung C Lee
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Bioinformatics
South Central Regional
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
Northeast Regional
Angie Y Chung
Univ. of Albany, SUNY
Sociology
Central East Regional
Jung-Lim Lee
Delaware State University
Food Microbiology
Southeast Regional
Bomi Kang
Coastal Carolina University
Hospitality & Tourism Management
North Central Regional
Munsup Seoh
Wright State University
Statistics
Canada East Regional
Sohee Kang
Univ. of Toronto, Scarborough
Statistics
Period
Office
Name
Affiliation
Specialty/Expertise
13th Leadership
President
Jae Kwang Park
Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Environmental Engineering
(2018-2019)
Vice President
Young B Choi
Regent University
Computer Networking & Telecommunication Networking
Vice President
Youngsuk Kim
Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania
Music
Financial
Yanghee Kim
Northern Illinois Univ.
Education
Membership
Munsup Seoh
Wright State University
Statistics
Planning
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
Scholarship
Sangwon Suh
UC Santa Barbara
Env. Science & Management
Southwest Regional
Jaeyoon Kim
Point Loma Nazarene Univ.
History
South Central Regional
Seong Nam Hwang
Southeast Missouri State Univ.
Geospatial Technology
Central East Regional
Jung-Lim Lee
Delaware State University
Food Microbiology
12th Leadership
President
"Wayne" Kang-Won Lee
Univ. of Rhode Island
Transp. & Civil Engineering
(2014-2017)
Vice President
Jae Kwang Park
Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Envion. Engineering
Vice President
Young B Choi
Regent Univ.
Computer Networking & Telecommunication Networking
Secretary General
Jongsung Kim
Bryant Univ.
Economics
Treasurer
Woonsup Choi
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Geography
Artistic & Cultural
Youngsuk Kim
Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania
Music
Scholarship Committee Chair
Kee Bum Kang
Naval Postgraduate School
Industrial Engineering
Rules Committee Chair
Kun Sup Hyun
New Jersey Inst. of Tech.
Chemical Engineering
Webmaster
Wooseob Jeong
Emporia State Univ.
Information Mgmt.
Board Members
Chair
"Kenny" Kihyun Kim
Univ. of Central North Carolian
Physics
(2014-2017)
Hangryul Rhee
West Virginia Shepherd Univ.
Politics
"Thomas" Hongtaek Hahn
Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Mech. Engineering
Yoon Shik Park
George Washington Univ.
International Finance
Nakho Sung
Tufts Univ.
Chemical Engineering
Sunwoong Kim
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Economics
"Wayne" Kang-Won Lee
Univ. of Rhode Island
Transp. & Civil Engineering
Jae Kwang Park
Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Envion. Eng.
Woonsup Choi (2011-13)
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Geography
11th Leadership
President
Sungwoong Kim
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Economics
(2007-2013)
Vice President
Byung H Kim
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
Mech. Engineering
Secretary General
Wooweob Jeong
Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Information Sciences
Treasurer
Jungho Kim (2007-10)
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Period
Office
Name
Affiliation
Specialty/Expertise
10th Leadership
President
Nak Ho Sung
Tufts University
Chem. & Biological Eng.
(2005-2006)
Treasurer
Jungho Kim
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Publications
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
Conference
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
9th Leadership
President
Yoon-Shik Park
George Washington University
Int?l Finance
(2003-2004)
Secretary General
Bongtae Han
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Treasurer
Jungho Kim
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Publications
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
Conference
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
8th Leadership
President
H. Thomas Hahn
UCLA
Mech. Engineering
(2001-2002)
President-Elect
Yoon-Shik Park
George Washington University
Int?l Finance
Secretary General
Bongtae Han
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Treasurer
Jungho Kim
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Publications
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
Conference
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
7th Leadership
President
Hang Yul Rhee
Shepherd University
Gov?t & Politics
(1999-2000)
President-Elect
H. Thomas Hahn
UCLA
Mech. Engineering
Treasyrer
Jungho Kim
University of Maryland
Mech. Engineering
Publications
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
Conference
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
6th Leadership
President
Youn-Suk Kim
Kean University
Economics
(1997-1998)
Vice President
Hang Yul Rhee
Shepherd University
Gov?t & Politics
Secretary General
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
5th Leadershi
President
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
(1995-1996)
Vice President
Youn-Suk Kim
Kean University
Economics
Vice President
Hang Yul Rhee
Shepherd University
Gov?t & Politics
Secretary General
Hae Soo Oh
Univ. of N. Carolina-Charlotte
Mathematics
4th Leadership
President
Eui Hang Shin
University of South Carolina
Sociology
(1993-1994)
Vice President
Ki-Hyun Kim
N. Carolina Central University
Physics
Vice President
Youn-Suk Kim
Kean University
Economics
Secretary General
Kyo Ho Youm
Arizona State University
Mass. Comm.
3rd Leadership
President
"Thomas" Yun Kim
Utah State University
Sociology
(1991-1992)
Vice President
Eui Hang Shin
University of South Carolina
Sociology
Vice President
Young J Kim
Alcorn State University
Social Science
Secretary General
Kyo Ho Youm
Arizona State University
Mass Comm.
2nd Leadership
President
Tae-Hwan Kwak
Eastern Kentucky University
Political Science
(1989-1990)
Vice President
"Thomas" Yun Kim
Utah State University
Sociology
Vice President
Eui Hang Shin
University of South Carolina
Sociology
Secretary General
Young J Kim
Alcorn State University
Social Science
1st Leadership
President
Seong Hyong Lee
Appalachian State University
Communication
(1986-1988)
Vice President
Tae-Hwan Kwak
Eastern Kentucky University
Political Science
Vice President
"Thomas" Yun Kim
Utah State University
Sociology
Secretary General
Eui Hang Shin
University of South Carolina
Sociology
Organitaional Meeting
Chairman
Seong Hyong Lee
Appalachian State University
Communication
Oct. 12, 1985
Vice Chairman
In Dal Choi
James Madison University
Music
Vice Chairman
Eui Hang Shin
University of South Carolina
Sociology

Bylaws

Effective January 1, 1987
Amended October 20, 1988
Amended October 16, 2011

​

Article I – Name

The name of this association is the Korean American University Professors Association (hereafter referred to as KAUPA or the Association).

​​

Article II – Membership

II.1. Regular membership in the association is open to all Korean Americans and Korean Canadians who hold academic positions, including those retired, in universities or colleges in the United States of America or Canada.

II.2. Associate membership in the Association is open to those persons who support the objectives and activities of the Association. Associate members shall have the same rights and privileges as the regular members except they may not vote and they may not be elected to an officer position.

II.3. All regular and associate members shall pay membership dues. The amount of dues shall be decided by the Executive Committee. Only regular members who have paid their dues are eligible to vote.

​​

Article III – Objectives

KAUPA is an academic, educational, non-profit and non-political organization.

The objectives of the Association are:

III.1. To encourage and facilitate academic research and scholarly cooperation among members, especially research on related issues on Korea and North America.

III.2. To facilitate academic and social exchanges of scholars between North America and Korea.

III.3. To sponsor programs for its members and Korean Americans.

 

Article IV – Activities

Activities of KAUPA may include:

IV.1. To hold academic conferences or seminars.

IV.2. To publish academic journals, newsletters and membership directories.

IV.3. To hold joint conferences or seminars with other academic, civic, or governmental organizations.

IV.4. To sponsor cultural or educational programs for Korean Americans and Koreans as well as its members.

IV.5. To sponsor other programs in accommodation with the objectives of the Association.

IV.6. KAUPA shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law.

 

Article V – Organization

V.1. Board of Directors

A. The Board of Directors (The Board) is the ultimate governing body of KAUPA and shall consist of at least five members.

B. The members of the Board are elected by the majority vote of the existing Board.

C. Each member is elected for two years and may be renewed by majority vote of the existing board.

D. The Board will select the Chairperson. The Chairperson’s term is two years and may be renewed.

E. The Board shall hold a regular meeting once a year. The decision of the Board will be made by the majority vote of the present.

F. The board shall approve the annual budget and and any special budgets submitted by the executive committee at the regular meeting.

G. The Board shall deal with major policy matters but not the routine management.

V.2. Nomination Committee

A. The Chairperson of the Board, President, and the First Vice President and one member-at-large will serve as the Nomination Committee.

B. The Nomination Committee nominates candidates for the members of the Board and the Executive Committee.

V.3. Executive Committee

A. The Executive Committee (EC) shall consist of President, at least two Vice Presidents, Secretary General, and Treasurer.

B. The members of the EC are nominated by the Nomination Committee and are elected by the General Assembly of KAUPA.

C. The terms of the EC are two years and may be renewed.

D. EC will plan and execute the KAUPA activities.

E. The President is the official representative and the chief executive officer of KAUPA, who is in charge of all activities of KAUPA.

F. Vice Presidents shall assist the President, and when the President is absent or incapacitated, the First Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President. The First Vice President is president-elect and assumes the presidency after the current president has fulfilled his/her two-year term unless the president chooses to renew.

G. The Secretary General is the chief administrative officer of KAUPA, and shall be responsible for the administrative support for the KAUPA activities.

H. The Treasurer shall manage the funds of KAUPA, and prepare financial statements and report them to the President and the Board.

I. The president and first vice president are ex officio members of the Board.

V.4. General Assembly

A. All due-paying members of the Association shall constitute the General Assembly.

B. The General Assembly shall confirm the membership of the Board and the Executive Committee by the majority vote.

 

Article VI – Revision

VI.1. The constitution may be revised by the General Assembly with a two-thirds majority vote of all ballots cast.

VI.2. Petition for a revision of the constitution can be made to the President, by 20 percent or more of the members of the General Assembly, or by a decision of the Executive Committee.

VI.3. The President shall conduct a ballot of all members with voting right within two weeks of receiving a petition for revision of the constitution. The ballot, with the statement of the petition, shall be forwarded to each member with the voting right. The completed ballot shall be returned to the President within four weeks after its mailing. The results of the ballots shall be announced within a week after the close of the ballots.

​​

Article VII – Provisos

VII.1. The constitution of KAUPA shall be effective immediately upon its approval

VII.2. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of KAUPA will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in Section 501 (c) (3) and 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding sections.

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(past and current)

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