Hello! I’m Jiwon. Welcome to my Substack!
I’m deeply grateful and delighted that you’ve chosen to spend your valuable time here. This is my hub for sharing thoughts on parenting, communication, media, culture, and a variety of other topics. Let me introduce myself.
I hold a Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Temple University and am a former tenured professor of Media Studies. One day, I might share my story of leaving academia and my fulfilling post-academic life. I’ve been honored with research awards from the International Communication Association (ICA) and the Broadcast Education Association (BEA). My research focuses on media and digital literacy, intercultural communication, and cultural competence. Currently, I am a Fellow Scholar at the Media Education Lab.
With over two decades of teaching experience in higher education, I’ve taught a wide range of courses, including Media Literacy, Media and Children, Cross-cultural Communication, Media and Social Change, Public Speaking, Introduction to Human Communication, and many others related to media and communication. My passion extends beyond the classroom, having collaborated with educators to integrate media literacy into diverse educational settings and directly instructing children and teenagers.
My work includes supporting North Korean defectors, aiding in their GED preparation, and teaching media literacy across various institutions. My doctoral dissertation focused on enhancing cultural competence in North Korean defectors through media literacy education, leading to the authorship of several book chapters. Currently, I’m collaborating with Kumhee, a North Korean defector who was my student 22 years ago and has since become a close friend, to write her memoir. For more information about this fascinating project, please click here.
I have a richly multicultural upbringing. Born and raised in South Korea, my life took a turn at 14 when we moved to Thailand due to my father’s job. After returning to Korea for college, I maintained close ties with Thailand, where my parents lived for 16 years. My academic pursuits took me to exchange programs in Hawaii and China, and at 23, I moved to the U.S. for graduate studies. I’ve lived in various cities, including New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Tustin (CA), Chicago, and the Greater Seattle area. These experiences significantly influence my parenting style and perspectives.
I want to use my website and Substack to share my insights and reflections on parenting, multicultural education, immigration, and Korea (both North and South). I deeply appreciate your visit to my Substack. It would mean a lot to me if you subscribe and join me on this journey. Thank you so much!
