Background
I am a public policy scholar specializing in social safety net programs and their impact on underserved populations, integrating perspectives from public administration, political science, and public health to explore how policies are implemented and experienced on the ground, ultimately aiming to improve access to public benefits and advance health equity. Prior to my academic career, I gained professional experience in international development and social welfare in both Kenya and South Korea, where working with diverse communities and government agencies taught me how policies function differently across varied social, economic, and cultural contexts. Drawing on these cross-cultural experiences, I focus my research on effective policy design and implementation.
Education
- PhD, Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York, 2025
- MA, Social Policy, KU Leuven, 2015
- BA, Public Administration, Chung-Ang University, 2014
Specializations
Social safety nets, health policy, state politics and policy, administrative burdens, and mixed-methods.
Research
My current research projects focus on three key areas: examining the impact of contracting out Medicaid on healthcare access, investigating potential administrative burdens imposed by third-party actors in Medicaid, and analyzing how burdensome policy encounters affect state-citizen interaction and public opinion. In my future research, I aim to expand my agenda to include the Hawaii Medicaid program, the policy feedback effects created by Medicaid beneficiaries, and the role of community organizations in mitigating administrative burdens.