Soojung Kim

Soojung Kim

Ph.D., M.P.H.
  • Dean, Graduate School, Graduate School
    • Public Health Communication, Strategic Communication

Contact Info

Office Address

School of Graduate Studies
Twamley Hall Room 103
264 Centennial Drive Stop 8178
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8178

Biography

Soojung Kim (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) was appointed dean of the University of North Dakota School of Graduate Studies in April 2026, following her service as interim dean since 2025.

As dean, Kim oversees more than 170 graduate programs, supports approximately 3,500 graduate students, and collaborates with over 600 graduate faculty across the institution. Her leadership is grounded in a commitment to expanding access to high-quality graduate education, strengthening community and industry partnerships, and advancing research and creative activities that address critical challenges facing North Dakota, the nation, and the global community.

Kim advances academic excellence through relationship-based leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic initiatives. Working closely with faculty, academic units, and campus partners, she fosters innovative approaches to teaching, research, and creative activity that support UND’s continued growth as a leading R1 institution.

Prior to her role as dean, Kim served as department chair and graduate program director in the Department of Communication. In these roles, she led initiatives that increased undergraduate and graduate enrollment, revitalized the Journalism degree program, expanded industry and alumni partnerships, and helped develop the online M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication programs, which have become key drivers of program growth.

Kim earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota, an M.P.H. in Population Health Research & Analytics from the University of North Dakota, and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and Psychology from Korea University in Seoul, South Korea.

COMM 345: Social Media Strategy
COMM 360: Communicating Science
COMM 402: Intercultural/International Communication
COMM 404: Advertising and Society
COMM 410: Senior Capstone in Communication
COMM 430: AD/PR Campaigns
COMM 505: Concepts in Quantitative Communication Research
COMM 516: Principles of Professional Communication
COMM 518: Professional Project in Communication
COMM 538: International Media
COMM 529: Communicating Science
COMM 550: International and Global Communication

  1. Bruns, M.* & Kim, S.G.** (2025). Conflicting health information and its influence on cancer prevention: social media use and trust as positive mediators. American Journal of Health Promotion.
  2. Bruns, M.*, Walch, T., Wagner, C.*, Bergeron, R.*, & Kim, S.** (2024). Examining the role of knowledge and trust on vaccine confidence in North Dakota among university students, faculty, and staff. BMC Public Health, 24(1539).
  3. Ross, A*, MacPherson, C., Baker, L., Kim, S., Njau, G., & Williams, A. D. (2024). Impact of breastfeeding barriers on racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding outcomes in North Dakota. Journal of Racial Ethnic Health Disparities.
  4. Kim, S., Scheffer-Wentz, H.*, Klug, M. G., & Schwartz, G. G. (2023). Comparing communication methods to increase radon knowledge and home testing: A randomized controlled trial in a high-radon city. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), 5634.
  5. Kim, S., Willis, E., Wehlage, S.*, Scheffer-Wentz, H.*, & Dulitz, M. (2023). Role of Meritocratic and diversity beliefs in Gen Z's trust and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A mixed-method study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 9(5), 1-9.
  6. Kim, S., & Williams, A.D. (2023). Roles of income and acculturation in the Hispanic paradox: Breastfeeding among Hispanic women. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 27, 1070-1080.
  7. Cavanah, S., Owens, S., Kemink, K., Riley, C.*, Kim, S., Lee, J., & Ellis-Felege, S. (2023). Birds of feather flock together: A longitudinal study of a social media outreach effort. Biological Conservation, 281, 109999.
  8. Kim, S., Chiu, T.*, Klug, M. G., Schmitz, D., & Schwartz, G. G. (2023). Interventions to promote home radon testing: A randomized clinical trial of a smartphone app vs. printed brochures. Cancer Medicine, 12(2), 2027-2032.
  9. Kim, S., Willis, E., Wehlage, S.*, Scheffer-Wentz, H.*, & Dulitz, M. (2022). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and short-term and long-term intentions among unvaccinated young adults: a mixed-method approach. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1-14.
  10. Lee, J., Kim, S., Ham, C-D, & Seok, A.* (2022). Avoidance and acceptance of native advertising on social media: Applications of consumer social Intelligence, persuasion knowledge, and the typology of consumer responses, Journal of Interactive Advertising, 22(2), 141-156.
  11. Lee, J., & Kim, S. (2022). Social media advertising: The role of personal and societal norms in page like ads on Facebook. Journal of Marketing Communications, 28(3), 329-342.
  12. Kim, S., Park, H.*, & Lee, J. (2021). Snapchat usage from the international perspective: comparison between the USA and South Korea. International Journal of Mobile Communications, 19(6), 734-751.
  13. Park, H.*, Kim, S., & Lee, J. (2020). Native advertising in mobile applications: Thinking styles and congruency as moderators. Journal of Marketing Communications, 26(6), 575-595. [The Lead Article]
  14. Kim, S., Brewster, M. S., & Schwartz, G. G. (2020). Communicating radon risk via a smartphone app: a pilot intervention study. BMC Public Health, 20: 547.
  15. Kim, S., Eisenschmid, T.*, & Cavanah, S. (2019). Effects of controllability of athlete celebrity endorsers’ drug scandals on punitive opinions: Sensation seeking as a moderator. Communication & Sport, 7(3), 361-384.
  16. Han, K. J., & Kim, S. (2019). Toward more persuasive diabetes messages: effects of personal value orientation and freedom threat on psychological reactance and behavioral intention. Journal of Health Communication, 24(2), 95-110.
  17. Kim, S., Jeong, S. H., & Hwang, Y. (2018). Why are there cross-national differences in response to comparative advertising?: some mediators. Journal of Marketing Communications, 24(6), 569-587.
  18. Hwang, Y., Lee, J., Kim, S., & Jeong, S. H. (2018). Mobile game users' evaluations of in-game advertising: role of multitasking and persuasion knowledge. International Journal of Mobile Communications, 16(5), 557-572.
  19. Lee, J., Kim, M., Ham, C. D., & Kim, S. (2017). Do you want me to watch this ad on social media?: The effects of norms on online video ad watching. Journal of Marketing Communications, 23(5), 456-472.
  20. Kim, S. (2017). Make your brand move!: Effects of animated brands in a mobile game on consumer responses, Asian Communication Research, 14(1), 84-109.
  21. Kim, S., & Shin, W. (2017). Understanding American and Korean students’ support for pro-environmental tax policy: The application of the value–belief–norm theory of environmentalism. Environmental Communication, 11(3), 311-331.
  22. Lee, J., Kim, S., & Ham, C. D. (2016). A double-edged sword? Predicting consumers’ attitudes toward and sharing intention of native advertising on social media. American Behavioral Scientist, 60(12), 1425-1441.
  23. Kim, S., & Bae, J. (2016). Cross-cultural differences in concrete and abstract corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaigns: Perceived message clarity and perceived CSR as mediators. International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, 1(1), 1-14.
  24. Kim, S., Lee, J., Hwang, Y., & Jeong, S. H. (2016). Effects of prominent in-game advertising in mobile media: cognitive, affective, and behavioural outcomes and the moderating role of persuasion knowledge. International Journal of Mobile Communications, 14(3), 203-225. [The Lead Article]
  25. Kim, S., Lee, J., & Yoon, D. (2015). Norms in social media: The application of theory of reasoned action and personal norms in predicting interactions with Facebook page like ads. Communication Research Reports, 32(4), 322-331. [One of the Most Read Articles Published in Communication Research Reports.]
  26. Kim, S., & Lee, J. (2014). Perceived norms and consumer responses to social media advertising: A cross-cultural study of Facebook Sponsored Stories among Koreans and Americans. The Korean Journal of Advertising, 25(6), 53-81.
  27. Kim, S., & Huh, J. (2014). Message-culture congruency effects in the context of PSAs for preventive health exams targeting Asian Women: Comparison between Asian and European women in the United States. Health Communication Research, 10, 75-124.
  28. Kim, S., Jeong, S. H., & Hwang, Y. (2013). Predictors of pro-environmental behaviors of American and Korean students: The application of the theory of reasoned action and protection motivation theory. Science Communication, 35(2), 168-188.
  29. Bae, J., & Kim, S. (2013). The influences of cultural aspects on the public perception of the importance of CSR activity and purchase intention in Korea. Asian Journal of Communication, 23(1), 68-85.

Note: * denotes students at the time of submission; ** denotes corresponding author.

M.P.H. Population Health Research & Analytics, University of North Dakota (2021)
Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of Minnesota (2015)
M.A., Mass Communication, University of Minnesota (2012)
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication/Psychology, Korea University (2010)

  • 2024-Present: Lead Technical Studies and Healthy Homes Technical Studies Grant Program ($486,377.00), The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • 2024-Present: UND Connect ($4,990.00), University of North Dakota.
  • 2023-2024: Digital Storytelling Summit ($12,398.00), North Dakota Newspaper Association Education Foundation.
  • 2023: Best Article Award, Journal of Interactive Advertising, American Academy of Advertising.
  • 2022-2023: 2022 Indoor Air Quality Mini-Grants: Building Systems to Improve Indoor Air Quality ($5,000), National Center for Healthy Housing (a flow-through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
  • 2022-2023: Research Grant ($100,000.00), Prevent Cancer Foundation.
  • 2022: Sponsored Research ($15,000.00), Grand Forks Public Health Department.
  • 2021: DaCCoTA Feasibility Pilot Grant ($55,600.00), National Institue of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.
  • 2020: Faculty Travel and Professional Development Award ($650.00), College of Arts & Sciences, University of North Dakota.
  • 2019: Itterman Faculty Professional Development Award, College of Arts & Sciences, University of North Dakota.
  • 2018: Early Career Award ($19,482.00), University of North Dakota.
  • 2018: Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity Fund ($3,500.00), College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Dakota.
  • 2018: Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award for PRSSA, University of North Dakota.
  • 2017: Third-Place Advertising Division Open Research Paper Award (tied), Advertising Division, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). 
  • 2017: Research Grant for Emerging Scholars, Co-PI, Korea Advertising Society
  • 2015: Undergraduate Research/Creative Activity Fund ($2,000.00), College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Dakota.    
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