Since he received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1985, Dr. Hefazi has been involved in a broad range of teaching, research, and academic administration activities.
His more recent research works have been on the application of CFD in turbomachinery, aerodynamic design optimization, aeroacoustics, hydrodynamics, ship design, and advanced multidisciplinary design and optimization (MDO) methods. Dr. Hefazi has been the principal investigator for more than one-hundred externally funded research projects including projects sponsored by the US Office of Naval Research, NASA, US National Science Foundation, and the Boeing Company among others. Prior to joining SUNY Korea, he served as the head of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Departments at California State University and Florida Tech for a combined 19 years.
Dr. Hefazi has also served as the director of several organizations and research labs including the Boeing Company's Technology Centre at California State University. He has received many awards including The US Department of Defense’s Nunn-Perry Award for 2005 and 2006 and the Boeing Company's Silver Eagle Award for innovation in 2006. He is a member of the US National Academy of Inventors and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Hamid Hefazi has already contributed much in many areas of SUNY Korea operations during his short tenure at SUNY Korea: personnel and policy committee, faculty senate, grievance policy, faculty evaluation criteria and guidelines, etc. As the chief academic officer overseeing the curricular and faculty matters, he has much to contribute to the university.
Two FIT professors, Professor Hyemin Kang of the Fashion Design Department and Professor Linda Kim of the Fashion Business Management Department, are currently participating in the 2025 International Fashion Art Invitational Exhibition, an event that celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between Korea and Japan. This year’s exhibition is presented under the theme “Resonance of K-Fashion: From Tradition to Innovation,” highlighting the rich cultura
The third episode of the TEFLON series, “AI as Collaborator, Challenger, and Catalyst in the Classroom,” took place on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Teaching Excellence Forum & Learning Optimization Network (TEFLON) is a dynamic academic series dedicated to strengthening faculty teaching excellence and fostering innovative learning across SUNY Korea. Organized by Dr. Joseph Cabuay, Technology & Society Department professor, the event brought together faculty and communi
Professor Neal Dreamson of the Department of Technology and Society was appointed as a National Curriculum Expert Committee member of the National Education Commission on October 23, 2025. The National Education Commission is an administrative committee under the President that establishes a mid- to long-term vision and policy direction for education based on social consensus; it also gathers and coordinates public opinion on education policies. Its purpose is to contribute to the de
On October 3rd, Business Management Professor In-Ki Joo received the Hwangjo Guenjeong Order of Merit (황조근정훈장) at the 8th Accounting Day ceremony. This Order of Merit is one of the highest honors granted by the Korean government to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to enhancing transparency in the nation’s accounting practices. For decades, Professor Joo has made significant impacts to the field of accounting through academic research, education, and policy a
Galaxy Smartphones as Global Wallets Could Redefine Korea’s Role in the Digital Currency Eragrag The U.S. is once again grappling with its chronic “twin deficits.” With foreign governments reluctant to keep buying U.S. Treasuries, America is turning to stablecoins to create new demand for dollars in the private sector. By promoting digital dollars as everyday assets and payment tools, the U.S. is laying the groundwork for a new kind of digital hegemony, by undermi