Sumin Kim is a first-year PhD student working with Dr. Annamaria Csizmadia, specializing in Diversity and Culture. Originally from Seoul, Korea, Sumin lived in the Netherlands, Dubai, and Germany before moving to the United States. Her diverse international experiences have significantly shaped her research interests in multicultural identities and the psychological complexities faced by children navigating multiple cultures. Sumin earned her bachelor’s from Sungkyunkwan University in Korea, with a double major in Psychology and Child Psychology & Education, focusing on child development. She then pursued a master’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies at Yonsei University, where she integrated youth development with an understanding of societal influences on developmental trajectories. During her master’s program, Sumin led counseling sessions at a regional children’s center, focusing on racial-ethnic socialization to help multiracial youth adapt to Korean society. In her master’s thesis she explored the psychological challenges faced by Korean multicultural youth returning after living abroad, emphasizing the critical role of social support in navigating cultural identity issues. After completing her master’s, Sumin worked as a researcher at Seoul National University’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Lab, contributing to projects on minority children with neurodevelopmental disorders. She later worked as a psychotherapist, helping multicultural children develop social and academic skills to adjust to mainstream society, which gave her firsthand experience of how multiculturalism impacts psychological well-being.
At UConn, Sumin’s research focuses on how cultural factors, such as ethnic-racial identity and racial socialization, shape the developmental trajectories and socialization processes of multicultural youth. Her work delves into understanding acculturation experiences of immigrant populations, with particular emphasis on identifying the protective factors and strengths that support multicultural youth through these transitions. Through her research, she aims to lay the foundation for interventions that address inequity and discrimination, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for multicultural youth.
Outside of her academic work, Sumin enjoys swimming, skiing, traveling, and taking photos. As this is her first time living in the United States, she is excited to explore the area and experience the local culture. Embracing this new chapter, she hopes to broaden her personal and cultural horizons during her time in the U.S.