Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

  On Monday, July 23rd, 17 students from the Fashion Design Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) were invited to the newly opened Chanel & Moi – Les Ateliers Seoul. This location marks the fifth Chanel Les Ateliers worldwide, a significant milestone for the brand as the number “5” has significant meaning for the founder, Gabrielle Chanel, making the Seoul location particularly noteworthy. Recognizing the growing demand for high-end fashion in Korea, Chanel opened this latest atelier to connect more closely with its customers. The place not only offers a wide range of exclusive services but also provides comprehensive after-sales support for all Chanel products. One of the highlights is the opportunity for one-on-one connections with one of Chanel’s ‘Tailor Apprentice,’ a top specialist who possesses an in-depth understanding of the brand’s unique characteristics. During their visit, the FIT students participated in Chanel’s first-ever ‘Career Day’ at the new atelier. They were given a tour of the workshop and introduced to a special Chanel’s Apprentice Program. This recruitment initiative aims to educate and inspire young talent, fostering a new generation of designers who will continue the Chanel legacy. They were also given the opportunity to connect with the tailors and ask one-and-one questions about what it is like working at Chanel. The event emphasized the importance of building trust and maintaining strong relationships with loyal customers, highlighting how crucial it is to offer exceptional service. For the FIT students, this was a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of a leading fashion house and potentially secure employment to further develop their skills.    

<Students from the NSLI-Y Program at the SUNY Korea Quad> The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) Summer Immersion program offers high school students the chance to gain knowledge in critical foreign languages and cultures, funded by the U.S. government. Since 2013, SUNY Korea has hosted the NSLI-Y Korean Language and Culture Summer Immersion program in collaboration with Stony Brook University’s Center for Korean Studies. NSLI-Y offers instruction in several languages, including Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish. Heejeong Sohn, the Associate Director of the Center for Korean Studies, directs the Korean language summer program. Under her direction, the program has thrived alongside the rapid development of Songdo. Initially, Songdo was still developing, but today it boasts modern amenities and efficient transportation, making it an attractive location for students. The six-week program features a rigorous curriculum with daily Korean language instruction and immersive cultural experiences. Students engage in real-life activities and field trips across Korea, deepening their understanding of Korean society and culture. The global popularity of K-pop, K-food, and K-dramas has increased interest in the Korean language and culture. As a result, the program requires students to have basic Korean language skills before arrival, enabling them to delve deeper into their studies. This year, 20 students from 16 states were selected from a competitive pool of 4,800 applicants. Hailey, a student in this year’s program, learned about NSLI-Y from a college counselor. Her interest in studying Korean and experiencing the culture was sparked during the pandemic while listening to K-pop. Starting with a basic understanding of Korean grammar and small conversations, her language skills improved significantly over the six weeks. "The culture is beautiful, the food is amazing, and the hard work, ethics, and appreciation for public property, family, and elders are really unique and special," she remarked. Another student, Emmanuel, cherished his experience during a temple stay in Gyeongju. He enjoyed conversing with a Buddhist monk and appreciated participating in the Buddhist lifestyle and the extensive walking involved.   Professor Heejeong Sohn, the Director of the NSLI-Y Korean Language and Culture program, is also the Assistant Director and Advanced Senior Lecturer in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies at Stony Brook University. She earned her Ph.D. from Stony Brook University, where she studied history and taught Korean, eventually establishing the Center for Korean Studies.           <Left: Heejeong Sohn, Director of the NSLI-Y Korean Language Program, RIGHT: Hailey and Emmanuel, students from the NYSLI-Y Korean Language Program>

High school students and instructors in the STEP program visited Canine Companions in July. Photos by John Griffin.   This is the second summer that Professor Mei Lin (Ete) Chan from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and her group have participated in the STEP program, a New York State Education Department effort that encourages and prepares more underrepresented minority and low-income secondary school students for entry into scientific, technical, health and health-related professions, including many areas where licensure is required.  Chan is the academic advisor for 3D PATH, a newly formed student club at Stony Brook University. It is a continuation of a student group called Hands in Hands, which focused on 3D printing prosthetics. Under the leadership of club president Ciara Woellhof, 3D PATH has expanded to include all kinds of 3D-printed assistive technology. The group works with community centers, nursing homes and various high school and elementary students to carry out its initiative.  Click here to read the original article.  

  Meet Provost and Professor Hamid Hefazi at SUNY Korea. In this interview, he shares valuable insights into the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) and his journey to joining IGC. He discusses how IGC offers a global education and a diverse range of experiences within Korea's advanced technological society. Click here to watch the full interview: LINK

India Pagan practicing with the Puerto Rico women’s basketball team.   Stony Brook University women’s basketball alumna India Pagan is representing Puerto Rico at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the second Olympic appearance of her career. Pagan made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Seawolves women’s basketball player, and third Stony Brook student-athlete ever, to compete in the Olympic Games. She also made Connecticut history as the first New London native to compete in the games, and was a member of the first-ever Puerto Rican women’s basketball team to qualify and compete at the Summer Olympics. Click here to read the original article.  

  Home Products Development at FIT is designed for and by the growing home products industry, and its students are encouraged to think creatively and broadly about solutions to challenges that face the industry and consumers—from toilet paper dispensers to coffee makers to body pillows. Marc Littlejohn, adjunct instructor in the program, had a framework for the capstone class that focused on a highly creative and collaborative approach for developing products that meet consumers’ ever-changing needs, while also satisfying the growing demand for job candidates with the specific skills that make the program’s graduates excellent hires in the industry. In this year’s senior capstone class, Annie Hassan, Home Products Development ’24, put the framework to use when she developed her final project, Solariscape (see diagram above). Solariscape uses window curtains with thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight into electricity that can power a single-family home. The PV cells are glued onto the back of a curtain with an attached 650W microinverter. The solar cells weigh 100 times less than a traditional solar panel and can generate 18 times more power/kg. The idea, Hassan said, came from the fact that only 5% of single-family homes in the United States utilize solar power; and since her assignment was to develop a product that was not yet in the market, Hassan saw an opportunity. Click here to read the original article.  

  In May, Ron Amato, professor of Photography and Related Media, released Artists of Provincetown, a book of photographic portraits of artists who live in the seaside Massachusetts town. Made over a period of eight years, the book contains 84 images of sculptors, painters, photographers, and writers, illustrating the artistic breadth of this 125-year-old community, known as the United States’ oldest continuous art colony. The book was produced in collaboration with the Provincetown Art Association and Museum on the occasion of the exhibition Ron Amato: Artists of Provincetown, which opened in June and is on view through August 18. Click here to read the original article.  

  SUNY Korea professor Seung-Bok Choi was recognized last month with a prestigious “Best Researcher Award” for International Research Awards on Sensing Technology from the journal Sensors. Choi, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has published 6 papers in the journal over the last year. His recent publications include: i) "Sensor-Less Control of Mirror Manipulator Using Shape Memory Polyimide Composite Actuator: Experimental Work,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 12, June 2024, Article No. 3910 (19pp), doi.org/10.3390/s24123910 ii) "Sensors and Sensing Devices Utilizing Electrorheological Fluids and Magnetorheological Materials – A Review,” Sensors, vol. 24, no. 9, May 2024, Article No. 2842 (23pp), doi.org/10.3390/s24092842  iii) “A Novel Tactile Sensing System Utilizing Magnetorheological Structures for Dynamic Contraction and Relaxation Motions,” Sensors, vol. 23, no. 22, November 2023, Article No. 9035 (17pp), doi.org/10.3390/s23229035. (Video Link: https://encyclopedia.pub/video/video_detail/1020) Sensors is an international open-access journal published by MDPI that covers research on sensors. Along with the IEEE Sensors Journal, it is one of the leading journals in the field. Professor Choi received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Inha University, and MS and PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University. He has been serving as a leading professor at SUNY Korea since March 2021 after retirement from Inha University. He has published over 700 SCI journal papers so far, 80 SCI journals with SUNY Korea, and was ranked #1 scholar in the world evaluated by ScholarGPS.com in the area of vibration control.   

  Two Stony Brook students have been selected as recipients of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, an award recognizing outstanding undergraduate, PhD-bound students in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering (STEM). This year’s winners are Gabriella Vaccaro, biochemistry, and Zain Zaidi, chemistry.  For the 2023-2024 academic year, 1,353 students were nominated by 446 academic institutions from a pool of more than 5,000 students nationally. A total of only 508 were selected as scholarship recipients. Each Goldwater Scholar is awarded up to $7,500 towards tuition cost, mandatory fees, books, and room and board for their remaining years of undergraduate study.  “These undergraduates do not dream small; Zain hopes his research will impact climate change through renewable energy and Gabriella is dedicated to getting better results faster using bioinformatics,” said Ashley Staples, director for external fellowships. “Supporting the Goldwater applicants is always an inspirational endeavor, and this year was no exception.” Click here to read the original article.  

The Impact of Families on the Success of College Students Extensive research has revealed that families profoundly influence college students' educational performance. These studies have uncovered key insights into the complex dynamics of student-family relations. In general, millennial college students have closer bonds with their parents and family than previous generations. On the other hand, student mental health, financial support, and campus safety have increased parents' interest in their students’ overall health, well‐being, and academic success. Student-family interaction topics include (1) Frequency of contact with family, especially mother; (2) Levels of parental financial involvement; (3) independence from family; (4) Siblings’ influence; and (5) Parents’ educational background. Family dynamics, culture, educational background, and socioeconomic status all play a role in shaping the level of parental or family involvement. This involvement, when balanced, can be a powerful catalyst for academic success. However, when parents excessively meddle (hover) in students’ college life, positive results might sometimes be seen academically, while socially, the students are adversely affected. This is what is referred to as helicopter parents. A student should be allowed some autonomy to survive life after college. Academic success may not warrant success after college because of what might seem like total dependence on the parents. It's crucial to maintain a healthy balance in family involvement. Families can support college students in many positive ways, and this support can make a significant difference in their journey. The most crucial role families can play in their student's success is providing emotional support. With the new academic expectations and a different social environment, parents’ emotional support and understanding can give students the confidence to deal with challenges. Maintaining an open line of communication might be the most important support to offer students. Encourage them to open up about their experiences, challenges, and successes. Try to balance actively listening with respect for student's privacy and boundaries. Support them if they fail. Failures can be a powerful lesson as long as they learn from it. If students can benefit from counseling or support services, it's crucial to encourage them to take advantage of these resources. College is an opportunity for students to develop independence and grow. It is also the time for parents to develop an adult-to-adult relationship with their college-aged students. Parents can often experience some positive and negative emotions themselves. Some of these feelings will be tied to their concerns about their student, but many feelings are more related to the changes in their life situation. Some helpful ideas for parents are to stay connected to students but not overwhelm them. Give them some space, but watch them from the sidelines. Support students' pursuit of interests and push their potential. Encourage them to get involved in organizations, clubs, or sport teams to help them better integrate with different friend groups and the campus community.  Time management is essential for student success. Parents can teach students to prioritize tasks, create a schedule, and maintain a healthy balance between studying, resting, exercising, and socializing. They can also encourage them to find the best organizational time management system. Mental Health is another important issue. Students, particularly freshmen, are under much pressure to adjust to the college experience and do well academically. Studies show that 1 in 3 college students in Korea at some point experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Parents should watch for any warning signs. Encourage and help students to seek academic and emotional help if needed. Understanding that each individual has different abilities, parents should avoid comparing and contrasting students' achievements with their siblings. Parents' role is to encourage the development of each child to the best of their ability. Student success is broader than academic success. It also means developing strong and mature individuals who will be successful in their careers and personal lives. Click here to read the article.

  SUNY Korea Professor Chihmao Hsieh won 2nd place in a nationwide competition at the 2024 Culture Communication Forum, hosted by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI). The CICI is a non-profit organization accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dedicated to showcasing the essence of Korea’s image to the world. The theme of the competition was “New Korea Ideas Contest”, aimed at identifying new ways in which Korean culture could be shared with the rest of the world.  Out of 256 projects submitted to this competition, 15 finalists were showcased on the final day at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Professor Hsieh won the “Excellence Award” for giving a presentation on how the “K-gestures,” including the finger heart and other well-known hand gestures in Korea’s informal communication culture, could be spread commercially around the world via logo design, as well as campaigns involving tailor-made animated characters or Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok reels. The judges for the competition included CJ Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Hyungji Group VP Choi Jun-Ho, Ambassador Hotel Group Seo Jung-ho, PMC CEO Song Seung-whan, Flitto CEO Lee Jung-Soo, and nearly a dozen National Ambassadors to Korea. The event and Professor Hsieh’s award were mentioned on Arirang TV and TV Chosun, as well as in a dozen newspapers.    

  On June 16th, 2024, in SUNY Korea's CDC office, I had the privilege of sitting down with Sunghyun Sean Lee, professor and team leader of Career Development Center (CDC), to uncover the essence of the Career Development Center and its pivotal role in shaping student careers. The CDC serves as a guide for students’ next chapter in life, offering tailored support in internships, job placements, and postgraduate paths aligned with their majors. It helps connect students with diverse opportunities—from webtoon and beauty companies to AI firms and international corporations—making summer internships readily accessible. According to Professor Sean Lee, preparation is key for securing a CDC’s summer internship programs. Fluency in both Korean and English, along with thorough interview readiness, is essential because the summer internship programs fill-up quickly. There have been many cases of successful outcomes from past students' internship experiences, as they were able to learn through real-world experiences that led to promising careers.  What sets apart a CDC summer internship? Beyond gaining hands-on experience in their field, students acquire practical skills and the chance to earn income, enriching their academic journey with invaluable workplace insights. Why pursue a CDC summer internship? Internships show employers that students are prepared and reliable. They help students learn life skills and develop a strong work ethic during summer breaks. Looking ahead, SUNY Korea's Career Development Center remains committed to empowering students with the tools needed to thrive in today's competitive job market. With diverse internship and volunteer opportunities, the CDC continues to shape the career path for SUNY Korea's students. These summer internship programs provided by CDC will not only offer you a diverse experience, but will also set a path for your future success.    Written by Student Reporter, Sean Keunho Kim (keunho.kim@stonybrook.edu)  

Members of the award-winning Office of Marketing and Communications (left to right): Susan Tito, Margot Bennett, Karen Leibowitz, John Griffin, Allison Schwartz, Allie Seal and Jaime Woll. Stony Brook University was honored with 11 awards at the 2024 State University of New York Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) Awards for Excellence, presented at the annual SUNYCUAD Educational Conference in June. The SUNYCUAD Awards for Excellence program rewards the best efforts of talented and creative professionals throughout the SUNY system. Juries with professional experience in the specific categories determine the winners, and judging is hosted and coordinated by colleagues from SUNY institutions. Click here to read the original article.  

  As Stony Brook University’s Student Health Services continues to add new services for students, it is also not resting on its laurels. The department recently received accreditation through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Services (AAAHS) after a challenging and thorough review of its facilities and offerings.  “[This is] not required but we do this to raise the bar,” said Marisa Bisiani, associate vice president of Health, Wellness and Prevention Services in the Division of Student Affairs. Bisiani explained that this rigorous accreditation surveys a multitude of things, including quality metrics and student satisfaction, and looks at services offered to students. “They survey every single facet of our operation from a medical perspective, our policies, how we practice, how well we practice,” she said. “They also look at our environment of care — is the environment safe and clean. Everything.” Click here to read the original article.

“Glorified Expectations” by Sarah Neil   In just three years of intensive study, the 16 students in the graduating class of the 2024 Master of Fine Arts in Illustration became a cohesive group, according to Brendan Leach, associate chair of the program. Their artistic connection is evident in the visual thesis exhibition, Flood, which opened in early June in Gallery FIT at The Museum at FIT; it continues through June 30. Click here to read the original article.