Seo-Hyun Park | Photo by Adam Atkinson
Research area: I am an international relations scholar trained in political science and Asian studies. I study national identity politics, political legitimacy, state formation, territorial disputes, military alliances, and immigration policy with a regional focus on East Asia. I am currently working on two separate research projects: on the role of non-state actors in regional and global wars in 19th-century East Asia and on refugee politics in East Asian democracies.
My Lafayette trip: I began working at Lafayette College in 2009 as a newly minted Ph.D. After working for several years as a visiting scholar at various institutions (University of Tokyo, Yonsei University, Harvard University, and Stanford University), I was excited to find a more permanent academic home. Over the past 15 years, I have truly enjoyed working with talented and dedicated students who are now making their mark as academics, researchers, lawyers, corporate and nonprofit leaders, congressional aides, and foreign policy experts at the State Department, Council on Foreign Relations, etc. There is nothing more gratifying and heartwarming than hearing from former students who take the time to share with me news of their careers and lives. I also feel very fortunate to work at an institution that values and encourages faculty research, as it allows me to stay up to date with the latest developments in my field and actively engage with other scholars (as well as policymakers and the public) through my conference presentations, workshops, publications, and opinion pieces.
What the appointment as full professor means to me: Most importantly, it’s a good opportunity to take stock of my professional achievements and refresh and reset my goals for the future. A few years ago, a colleague suggested that I make regular five-year plans to remind myself of where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. I’ve taken that advice to heart. I’m also reminded every day how I’ve been guided throughout my professional development by countless mentors and friends who have shown me what thoughtful, trustworthy, inclusive, and effective leadership looks like. I hope to honor them by passing on some of what I’ve learned and experienced.
What I will be teaching in the fall: In fall 2024, I will be teaching the capstone seminar GOVT 415: Nationalism in World Politics and two sections of GOVT 102: Introduction to International Politics. I love teaching these two courses in parallel because I get to interact with some of our most talented and dedicated undergraduate majors, as well as freshmen and sophomore students who want to learn more about world politics.
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