Seaver College Alumna Joyce Kim Receives Fulbright Fellowship

Seaver College alumna Joyce Kim ('26) has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright fellowship, where she will be residing in South Korea as an English teaching assistant. Kim, who holds a degree in English with an emphasis in education, will be working alongside other educators abroad to teach English to non-first-language learners.

Founded by US senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, the Fulbright Program has maintained its long-standing mission as the largest United States exchange program, fostering peaceful global relations with mutual, friendly understanding. Each year the Fulbright US Student Program selects a limited number of individuals to receive its highly competitive fellowship seeking well-rounded applicants who display professional leadership, academic excellence, and cross-cultural involvement. 

“I'm eager to work alongside other teachers to learn what pedagogy looks like in South Korea,” Kim says, “and if there's anything that I can take away from that into the classroom in America.”

Kim developed a love for English early on, crediting two educators in particular: her mother—an English teacher herself—and her high school English teacher, Richard Posito. During Kim’s undergraduate studies at Pepperdine, her passion for English then grew into a desire to teach the subject.

Pepperdine’s faculty inspired Kim to pursue the study of pedagogy, the art of teaching. She credits this vocational path to Pepperdine’s small class setting, which invited a discussion-based environment in which she thrived. “It was thrilling to meet peers who knew more than me or brought different perspectives from other classes,” she says. 

At Pepperdine, Kim participated in Sigma Tau Delta, the University’s English Honors Society, while also serving as a writing tutor in the Writing Center and working as a residential assistant for Housing and Residence Life. She was also a member of Koinonia Campus Mission, a student-led weekly worship and fellowship, and the Veritas club, another student-led ministry facilitating dialogue about life’s philosophical questions. In addition, Kim worked closely with Jacqueline Dillion, associate professor of English, in a student mentorship program where she refined her writing skills through producing research papers while shadowing Jonathan Koch, assistant professor of English, for pedagogical education.

“Joyce was a delight to teach because of her deep intellectual curiosity,” adds Koch. “Joyce asked brilliant questions about how and why I taught class in a particular way, making me consider my own practices. Joyce's passion for reaching others through shared inquiry is genuine and contagious, as is her laugh, and she has the perfect disposition and habits of mind to be a great teacher, which is why the Fulbright is a perfect program for her.”  

“The faculty, especially Professor Koch, expertly wove their knowledge and discipline into their curriculum and opened their hearts and minds to further questions and inquiries that were left unsaid in class,” adds Kim. 

For Kim, English, and narratives in particular, serve as a medium for human connection which Kim now seeks to share with others. “Throughout my entire college career, my passion has always been discussion-based learning, a big part of that being communication, talking with others, learning about what they value and what they prioritize, and how their background or experiences come forth in a conversation.” 

“Throughout her time in my classroom and in one-on-one conversations, Joyce has shown a relentless passion for learning,” adds Carrie Wall, professor of teacher education, who also worked closely with Kim. “She consistently enriches class discussions with unique, thoughtful questions, and deeply engages with course material. Her intellectual curiosity, pedagogical skill, and dedication to service will make her an outstanding teacher and cultural ambassador.” 

The Fulbright Fellowship also serves a greater purpose for Kim: “Some day,” she says, “I envision myself teaching English to students internationally in the mission field.”

With her Fulbright Fellowship, Kim joins an eminent group of Pepperdine fellowship recipients who exemplify the University’s commitment to academic excellence and service.