Get to Know Ju Kim, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Ju Kim is dean of the recently formed College of Arts and Sciences. Ahead, he shares his love for teaching physics, goals for the new college, and commitment to student success. 

What inspired your career path? Did you always envision a career in academia? 

My career path was inspired by a deep curiosity about how the world works and a desire to help others make sense of complex ideas. I initially entered college with aspirations to become an aeronautical engineer. However, after taking my first university-level physics course, I became captivated by the elegance and explanatory power of physics. That experience fundamentally shaped my direction. 

While I did not always envision a career in academia at the outset, teaching and mentoring students quickly became a calling. Over time, I came to see higher education not only as a place for discovery and learning, but also as a powerful vehicle for expanding opportunity, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to society. That realization ultimately led me to pursue a long-term academic career that integrates teaching, scholarship, and leadership. 

You’ve taught physics for 23 years. Why that subject?  

What I enjoy most about teaching physics is helping students understand and appreciate how the physical world operates at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Physics provides a unifying framework for understanding nature, and guiding students to see connections between theory, experimentation, and real-world phenomena is deeply rewarding. Watching students develop confidence as they begin to think like scientists has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. 

You’re the dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences. What’s one goal you have for the college, and how are you hoping to achieve it? 

One of my primary goals for the new College of Arts and Sciences is to leverage its collective strengths across the arts, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and technology to better support existing programs and develop innovative interdisciplinary offerings. I want the college to serve as an academic home that encourages collaboration, creativity, and intellectual integration. 

I hope to achieve this by working closely with students, faculty, department chairs, other deans, and university partners. By fostering open communication, strategically aligning resources, and supporting faculty-driven initiatives, we can create new opportunities for students and better prepare them for their academic, professional, and civic futures. 

What excites you most about your job? 

What excites me most about my role is the opportunity to work with both internal and external stakeholders to support student success and faculty success. Serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences allows me to collaborate closely with faculty and students to advance the mission of Empire State University. 

I am energized by the chance to help shape academic programs, support innovation in teaching and scholarship, and remove barriers that impede student progress. I strongly believe that the university’s success is inseparable from that of its students and faculty, and contributing to that shared success is deeply meaningful to me. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your approach to your role as dean? 

One aspect of my approach that I would emphasize is my commitment to collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven leadership. I believe effective academic leadership begins with listening to and understanding the needs and aspirations of students, faculty, and staff and building trust through transparency and shared purpose. 

I also view my role as one of stewardship: supporting academic excellence while ensuring that institutional decisions align with long-term sustainability and equity. My background as a faculty member, department chair, and dean allows me to approach leadership with empathy, respect for shared governance, and a strong focus on student success.