In my pursuit to better understand my Korean adoptee identity, I went to school and got a master of social work from Columbia University.  My first job out of school was as a policy analyst at the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. This job allowed me to research international adoption and gave me the opportunity to co-author the Report on the First Gathering of Adult Korean Adoptees in Washington, DC , a pioneering report of first person perspectives on what it is like to be adopted. At the same time, I was invited to join Also-Known-As, a NY based non-profit volunteer organization for internationally adopted people and families. As a founding member, I was tasked to create and co-direct the youth Mentorship Program that continues to this day.

Needing to really understand the system of intercountry adoption, I worked for a private adoption agency, Spence-Chapin. After a short time in the pre-adoption phase of the process, I moved to post-adoption work as a counselor for children and parents, presented at workshops related to issues around being adopted, facilitated Spence-Chapin’s Kids Groups, ran Teen Forums and helped to create another youth Mentorship program for domestic and international adoptees that continues to this day.  

Being Korean-American has always been a deeply meaningful part of my identity.  Curious about what it would mean to culturally reconcile my American upbringing with my ancestral and biological Koreanness led me to live in Korea, learn Korean and deeply immerse my personal education of the Korean/Asian-American diaspora.  This passion led me to being a clinical supervisor at the Korean American Family Service Center in Flushing, NY serving domestic violence victims and immigrants.  It also led me to become the Vice President of Programming at Sejong Cultural Education, Inc., a non profit furthering cultural understanding in and among the Korean and American communities and co-direct Sejong Camp for 8 years.

Being a social worker and therapist of color gave me the opportunity to work as a counselor at the Juilliard School, an internationally renowned arts school. All my identities and journeys proved as ample resources for the many international and students of color during their formative adult years. 

Being adopted is never far from my consciousness and my passion project with the intercountry adoptee community lies in IAMAdoptee.org, a virtual platform creating resources on mental health and wellness for the adoptees by fellow adoptees.  

Being a member of the diasporic Korean-American community is where I live most comfortably.  It informs my womanhood, my mothering and the way I move in America.  I am an unabashed consumer of all things related to Korean dramas and variety shows, Korean music, BTS and have experienced a cultural reconciliation that has deeply grounded me and brings me immense joy. 

While accolades are wonderful, the organizations who have acknowledged the work I have done mean more as they represent the depth of who I yearn to become.  I have been the recipient of the Caring for Children Award from the Coalition on Asian American Children and Families; Outstanding Practitioner Award from St. John’s Adoption Initiative Conference and the Dynamic Achiever Award from OCA Westchester & Hudson Valley for achievements for the benefit of the Asian American community.