Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

Stephen A. Koch, Stony Brook University professor emeritus in the Department of Chemistry, was recently named the recipient of the 2023 American Chemical Society (ACS) Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry “for pioneering contributions to bioinorganic chemistry and fundamental synthetic coordination chemistry, and for exceptional service to the ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry.” The award is sponsored by Strem Chemicals.  Among his many responsibilities that garnered this accolade, Koch was responsible for the logistical task of scheduling the various Inorganic Chemistry Division oral and poster sessions at multiple National ACS meetings for more than a decade. Accordingly, he will be honored at the ACS award ceremony in March 2024, in conjunction with its annual conference, where he will provide an award address, and there will be a day-long symposium in his honor. Click here to read the original art article

  As the year comes to an end, the grand finale, “2023 Year-End Party" was celebrated on Friday, November 24th, 2023. The Undergraduate Student Council (USC) and SUNY Korea's Student Services invited all SUNY Korea students, faculty, and staff for the much-anticipated 2023 Year-End Party. The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘KINGSMAN’, and all members were dressed with charm and elegance in suits and ties, adding a spice to the event. The ‘Best Dressed Award,’ was presented to Hyobin Shin (Mechanical Engineering, SBU) and Jennifer Christiana (Fashion Business Management, FIT) for showcasing the best style of the night. Additional winners received ‘People of the Year’ awards, from votes that were collected prior to the event. Theses winners were recognized for their significant contributions to the SUNY Korea community. Lastly, the Lucky Draw session added a layer of excitement to the evening. During the event, many lucky attendees were able to win amazing prizes.  A highlight of the event was SUNY Korea’s ‘Got Talent Show,’ featuring performances from six teams – ECHO, Emesis, Delicatessen, Seunghun Lee, White Chamber, and Yoonji Min – who took the stage to compete for the grand prize. From musical performances to festive dance performances, the students were able to showcase their extraordinary talents. Via selection from our wonderful faculty and USC President judges, ‘Delicatessen’ (Haemin Kim, Computer Science, SBU) won first place in the ‘Got Talent Show’ with his amazing talent in guitar. Eddie (Seunghun Lee, Electrical and Computer Engineering, SBU) secured in second place in beatboxing and EMEIS (SUNY Korea dance club) won third place. As the SUNY Korea community came together to bid farewell to 2023, the Year-End Party’s program left an unforgettable memory to all. 1st Place: Delicatessen   2nd Place: Seunghun Lee   3rd Place: EMEIS     Check the 2023 SUNY Korea Year-End Party Video HERE  

    From November 23rd to 26th, the Incheon Art Show 2023 will be held at the Incheon Convensia Center, and this year, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) is making a bold statement with its participation. Under the title "Contemporary Canvas," FIT's FD Department is set to showcase a vibrant and creative display, featuring more than 20 original digital artworks printed on T-shirts. The Incheon Asia Art Show is a platform for artists and designers to show off their art pieces. In this year’s Incheon Asia Art Show, ‘Beyond Asia Connect Global,’ around 700 domestic and international artists will be participating and operating booths. FIT's presence at the event underscores its commitment to fostering creativity and embracing the global art market. Visitors to the FIT booth at Convensia can expect to be captivated by a diverse array of curated graphic T-shirts, each piece carefully curated to reflect contemporary designs. The Modern T-Shirt allows individuals to express themselves while controlling their own personal narratives. This exhibition represents a collaborative work within the Fashion Design Department, showcasing the talent of the student, faculty, and staff designers. For those eager to explore the intersection of art, fashion, and technology, the Incheon Asia Art Show 2023 is the place to be. FIT's "Contemporary Canvas" exhibit promises to leave a lasting impression, offering a glimpse into the future of artistic expression and boundless possibilities. Don't miss the opportunity to witness this convergence of art and fashion at the FIT booth, along with a variety of many other artists.  

  On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, SUNY Korea students were granted a rare glimpse into the fashion world from one of the most famous fashion designers in South Korea. Chung Chung Lee, the CEO of LIE Collection and also the son of Sang Bong Lee, was able to join the Fall 2023 Career Talk to You, themed “Fashion in Passion”. Mr. Lee’s journey into the fashion industry is all about creativity. Throughout his talk, he emphasized the importance of having a profound passion in fashion. Also, he shared stories of collaborating with numerous brands, including Van Cleef & Arpels, Aston Martin, Swarovski, BMW MINI, Volkswagen, and many more.  His LIE Collection, short for “Life Is an Expression,” shows his innovative talent in each piece. Mr. Lee has curated numerous fashion shows around the world, including Paris, New York, Seoul, and Jakarta. He explained the intricate process of creating a fashion show, from designing each piece, shoes and accessories that fit with the clothing, and even guiding the models in expressing the clothing. As the session concluded, the students left with a newfound insight for the fashion industry. Chung Chung Lee’s journey has inspired many FIT students dreaming of a career in the fashion industry.   Chung Chung Lee and Vincent Quan, Chair and Professor of the Fashion Business Management Department  

With holiday baking season upon us, it’s time to check in with Rose Levy Beranbaum, Fashion Design ’70, the three-time James Beard Award-winning fairy godmother of fabulous baked goods. Rose has written 13 cookbooks, most of them about desserts. She’s known for her “bibles”—on cake, cookies, pie and pastry, baking, and bread—and for the kind of precise instructions that let even a novice produce a masterpiece. After 35 years, she’s working on a revision of The Cake Bible, first published in 1988, and named Cookbook of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals in 2017. Like any good bible, this perennial bestseller is epic. There are butter cakes, cheesecakes, sponge cakes, wedding cakes, and even pancakes. Click here to see the original article.

  From the Anime Club to the Yarn Cafe (knitting and crochet), student clubs are an important part of life at FIT. One popular club is Runway27, which imagines, plans, and produces an immersive fashion show. Founded by Fashion Business Management Professor Lori Massaro in 2013 with 25 students, the club now has 150 student members hailing from many different majors. Runway27 members come up with the theme, source the garments and accessories, do hair and makeup, secure sponsors, design the set, capture video and photo content, and market the event to the FIT community—all while navigating a busy curriculum and their own social lives. This year’s high energy show, Synergy, held Nov. 16 in the Haft Theater, was told through the four elements of life: air, earth, fire, and water. The four elements were demonstrated in the garments, colors, and textures in this year’s show and were presented by an exciting cast of ethnically diverse and body-inclusive models, who are also FIT students. The makeup featured beautiful eye adornments to signal which element they represented. Even the pre-show mocktails matched the evening’s theme. Click here to see the original article.

In an insightful field trip organized by the CPA Study Group on Monday, November 13th, 15 enthusiastic members had the opportunity to visit EY HanYoung. EY HanYoung is a prominent player in the corporate accounting sector that provides consulting, assurance, tax, and transaction service. The event included a company overview, an engaging Q&A session with a Senior Accountant, and a comprehensive office tour. The study group's visit commenced with a warm welcome from EY HanYoung's staff, who introduced the firm and its areas of expertise. The participants were specifically notified that in addition to Assurance, there is a growing demand for foreign accountants in areas such as Consulting, Deals, and Tax.  One of the highlights of the trip was the Q&A session with a Senior Accountant at EY HanYoung. This session offered the students a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the daily life and challenges that account professionals face. Additionally, the office tour provided an inside look at the firm’s facilities and working environment, which was also a very unique opportunity for the CPA Student Group to be able to glimpse the dynamic and collaborative culture at EY HanYoung.  This field trip served as an important stepping stone for the future accountants of the CPA Study Group. The growing demand for foreign accountants will be a great opportunity for the students at SUNY Korea, where students are able to experience cross-cultural skills and earn global perspectives. 

SUNY Korea Career Development Center hosted an event named “Fall 2023 SBU Alumni Panel Event,” which was held through Zoom on Saturday, November 11 for SUNY Korea students. Four SUNY Korea SBU graduates participated in this event as speakers: Won Gu (AMS, PhD Candidate at Penn State University), Long Vu (BM, MS Candidate at Carnegie Mellon University), Sunghwan Kim (TSM, MS Candidate at Stanford University), and Anh Nguyen (MEC, PhD Candidate at Northwestern University).  In their presentations, the four SUNY Korea SBU graduates advised on how to apply to graduate programs and graduate schools abroad based on their own experiences. What the four speakers emphasized in common were: a higher GPA, being proactive in one’s interested research field, and close relationships with faculty based on one’s passion. After the four speakers finished, there was a mentoring session for SBU students who participated in this event via Zoom breakout rooms. Thanks to this session, the participants could ask the graduates what they really wanted to ask, and get advice from them as real applicants rather than examiners. One student who joined this panel event said, “It was a good opportunity for me to get advice from the students who graduated from SBU, SUNY Korea. In particular, I learned that graduate schools in the US prefer applicants who graduated from American colleges and universities rather than other countries. In my case, I became confident about utilizing my American school degree in order to enter a graduate program overseas.”   Written by Student Reporter, Hyeonha Hwang (hyeonha.hwang@stonybrook.edu)  

When Usama Shaikh, the assistant chief diversity officer in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, got to Stony Brook University, he knew it was special. The university has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, something Shaikh saw from his first interview, but he wanted to do something to confirm and even celebrate the progress. So, he approached Judi Brown Clarke, Stony Brook’s vice president for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, about making that happen. The result? A recognition from Insight into Diversity’s 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award. Click Here to read the original article  

  Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers, KSME, held its annual meeting on November 1st to 4th, 2023 at Songdo Convensia, Incheon. This year’s theme was “Mechanical Engineering Leading the Korean Defense Industry.” The Mechanical Engineering Department at Stony Brook University in SUNY Korea participated in this wonderful opportunity by operating a booth. Five faculty, six graduate students, and seven undergraduate students from the Mechanical Engineering Department attended this conference. Some ME students, mainly graduate and senior students, took part in the poster sessions. Additionally, two ME undergraduate students and several graduate students participated in the presentation section of this conference, where they were able to share what they have researched in the past years. For this year’s conference, 45 companies registered for booths, with over a thousand research papers and presentations being offered. Additionally, KSME Conference 2023 had several sessions such as ME expert review sessions, special lectures, invited speakers’ lectures, KSME-SEMES OIC winners’ presentation and awards, KSME-LG Future Home Tech & Challenge winners’ presentation and awards, and international sessions, including research presentations. These sessions were divided into Korean and international sessions. Written by Student Reporter, Hyeonha Hwang (hyeonha.hwang@stonybrook.edu)

On Wednesday, October 25th, Haeun Choi, an FIT Alumni, visited SUNY Korea to deliver a talk as part of the FIT Alumni Talk series. During her presentation, she shared her journey, from her educational background to her current role as the CEO of GREENEST, emphasizing her dedication to sustainable fashion, and offering valuable advice to aspiring students and entrepreneurs. Here is an interview with Haeun Choi. Can you introduce yourself? Hello, my name is Haeun Choi, CEO of Greenest, which is a sustainable fashion brand based in South Korea. I got an AAS degree in FIT Korea, and a BS degree in FIT New York campus, both with Summa Cum Laude. I majored in Fashion Business Management.  Why did you choose to study at SUNY Korea FIT? The reason I chose SUNY Korea FIT is because it was the most optimal choice for me, as I wanted to gain experience not only in New York but also in the fashion industry in Korea. In fact, to work in the fashion industry, understanding consumer psychology and staying attuned to market trends is crucial. FIT offers the advantage of obtaining both an AAS degree and a BS degree from different countries, which has been very helpful in my current business pursuits. Can you introduce your business and explain how you started it? GREENEST is a fashion brand that promotes responsible and refined fashion while aiming to make sustainable fashion more widely accessible. We prioritize sustainability throughout the entire process, from sourcing raw materials to production and shipping. The brands' collections are a fusion of expert craftsmanship, attention to detail, and classic and elegant silhouettes, all designed to enhance the natural beauty of every person. GREENEST's commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. "Sustainability is a top priority for GREENEST in every stage of the process, as evidenced by the strong emphasis on sustainability in the design of all our collections, including the materials used and overall design." I had the opportunity to take courses on sustainability and the fashion industry at both FIT Korea campus and FIT New York campus, and I realized that the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry was more significant than I had initially thought. Wanting to make a positive impact within the fashion industry, I aspired to launch a sustainable fashion brand to help realize this goal.              In what ways did your academic experience at SUNY Korea FIT and FIT New York influence your ability to manage your own brand? I majored in Fashion Business Management at FIT. As a result, I gained a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, learned about textiles as part of my general education, and acquired knowledge in marketing and merchandising, which are essential for running a fashion brand. In particular, during my studies, I engaged in numerous case studies of fashion companies, providing me with indirect experience of the challenges that fashion companies face and the opportunity to propose solutions through various projects. These indirect experiences have proven to be invaluable in running my current brand. How do you cope with fear and doubt in your professional journey? In reality, running a business is often navigating the unknown, and in the early stages, I was frequently plagued by uncertainty and experienced significant emotional fluctuations. However, once I accepted that these uncertainties are something all entrepreneurs encounter, I began to find my anxiety diminishing. I believe that managing these anxieties is also an integral part of entrepreneurship. Trusting in my choices and persevering in the way I've chosen to go, I have faith that I will eventually reach the goals I aspire to achieve. What advice would you offer to students pursuing their academic and professional goals? I hope that you won't hesitate to pursue what you want, even if you lack experience or knowledge. Whether you have a wealth of experience and knowledge or not, continuously learning and growing is a common journey. If you have passion or desire, I encourage you to take the first step without hesitation. And always remember that by giving your best effort in every moment, you will eventually see the fruits of your labor. So, try to do your best at all times.

On October 30, “An Evening with Seth Godin” brought the entrepreneur and best-selling author before an FIT audience. Students, faculty, and alumni gathered in the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre for an intimate conversation. Godin’s career spans five decades and includes the foundation of two companies: Yoyodyne, an unconventional marketing firm, launched in 1995 and sold to Yahoo! three years later; and Squidoo, a user-generated website, founded in 2006 and sold in 2014. Many of his 21 books have become best-sellers. His writing covers topics such as the global landscape post-Industrial Revolution, how ideas spread, and Godin’s particular concept of marketing. “Marketing is anything we do that changes the culture for the better,” he has said. Click here to see the original article.

SUNY Korea Booth Operation at 'The 2nd Incheon Global Citizenship Education Festival'   SUNY Korea actively participated in 'The 2nd Incheon Global Citizenship Education Festival’, which was organized by the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education and took place from October 31st to November 1st. This event was organized to provide Incheon citizens with the opportunity to learn and experience what it means to become a global citizen. It featured a wide range of booths, including aviation, robotics, high-tech automobiles, beauty, human rights, international education, and many more, in which attendees could actively engage. Over 3,000 people attended this event, with the majority of participants being elementary, middle, and high school students. During this event, SUNY Korea promoted both Stony Brook University (SBU) and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) by offering a robot experience and natural dyeing experience. The robots, designed by the Mechanical Engineering graduate students, were equipped with radar sensors and could follow the person in front of them. Furthermore, SUNY Korea was able to promote FIT by allowing attendees to engage in designing handkerchiefs using natural dye paint, which was provided by Professor Jae-man Jung.        On the final day of the event, an international forum was held with the theme of exploring a future direction for Incheon-style global citizenship education. SUNY Korea Professor Jang Ik Lee participated as a panelist, along with Woo-tak Jeong, representative of GPE Korea (Director of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Institute for Education for International Understanding) who served as the moderator, followed by Incheon Metropolitan City Superintendent Mr. Do Sunghun, UN ESCAP Northeast Asia Office Representative Kangbold Vasanzas, George Mason University Korea Campus Dean Robert Mats, and Bapon Fakrudin, senior expert at the Green Climate Fund.   Professor Jang-Ik Lee Participation in the Forum    

20 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games on SNY The Stony Brook University Athletics Department has announced a linear television agreement with SNY for 20 basketball games during the 2023-24 season. SNY will air 10 Stony Brook men’s basketball games and 10 women’s basketball games this season. The 20-game package is the largest linear television deal in program history. As of November 2, Stony Brook’s 20-game deal with SNY to broadcast men’s and women’s basketball is the largest college basketball linear television agreement of any mid-major program in the Tri-state area. Click here to read the original article.

  Eight SUNY Korea students have been appointed as Student Ambassadors for academic year Fall 2023 to Spring 2024: Eunbin Cho (AMS), Hyeseo Hong (AMS), Diego Alejandro Alvarez Gonzalez (ME), Gibson Katuma (ME), Sepehr Soheili Najafabadi (TSM), Sieun Park (CS), Yoonji Min (FBM), and Jennifer Christiana (FBM). These students were appointed on Wednesday, October 25th to become the representatives of SUNY Korea (Stony Brook University and Fashion Institute of Technology). At the ceremony, President Arthur H. Lee gave a congratulatory speech: “Thank you all for being a member and representative of SUNY Korea. Now you as the student ambassador of SUNY Korea will be representing SUNY Korea. Every action and decision you will make will give a great impact to those around you. And you were selected because we believe you are capable in what you do. Therefore, make a decision with the best knowledge you have about SUNY Korea.”     [SUNY Korea’s 8 New Student Ambassadors] Eunbin (Elisa) Cho - South Korea Applied Mathematics and Statistics, joined Spring 2023   I'm still exploring what kind of career I want, but for my immediate plan, I am going to pursue my master's degree. Being a proactive and welcoming representative is a role I am committed to fulfilling. As a Korean who has lived most of her life outside of Korea, I want to be a voice of the students who have similar experiences to mine because I know how it feels to be out of place when you are expected to not feel such a way.                     Hyeseo Hong – South Korea Applied Mathematics and Statistics, joined Spring 2021 I aspire to be a supportive and compassionate individual who strives to make a positive impact around the world. As a student ambassador, I will do my best to represent the great people of SUNY Korea and its unique, yet global learning experience to become the history makers who change the world.             Diego Alejandro Alvarez Gonzalez - Venezuela Mechanical Engineering, joined Fall 2020 As an ambassador I wish to let others know of how welcoming of a place our university is and how they can find friends in every corner. My future goals are broad, only entailing to give back to my friends and family who got me this far.                   Gibson Katuma - Tanzania Mechanical Engineering, joined Fall 2021 Despite my fear of flying, I’m deeply passionate about aeronautics and aspire to uncover its technological wonders. As a SUNY Korea student ambassador, I am looking forward to representing my fellow students and the university in general, and also communicating our vision and mission to prospective students looking to join us as history makers, parents, and anyone curious about what we stand for.                   Sepehr Soheili – Iran Technology and Society, joined Spring 2023 I decided to join the TSM major due my interest in societies’ dependency on technological advancements and how they are shaping the world. With technology constantly growing and humanity entering this new era, I want to effectively be part of this immense change. As a student ambassador I hope to bring more joy to SUNY Korea and add to it values in any way I can.                 Sieun Park – South Korea Computer Science, joined Spring 2021 I love seeing how technology shapes our lives, such as artificial intelligence transforming industries and improving human lives. I would like to develop AI solutions and contribute to the latest advancements in the field. As a student ambassador, I aim to set an example both academically and socially. I would also like to show the image of the school as a foundation for everyone to fit in and fulfil their needs and dreams.                Yoonji Min - South Korea Fashion Business Management, joined Fall 2022 My passion for Korean traditional clothing, hanbok, led me to study at FIT, SUNY Korea. In addition to my studies at FIT in Fashion Business Management, I look forward to finding my career and pursuing my future goals through the learning opportunities in upcoming seasons. As SUNY Korea's student ambassador, it is a pleasure to communicate with students, parents, and faculty members. In addition to attracting and introducing new students to our campus, I will encourage undergraduates to keep up their passion and to be proud students of our school.                  Jennifer Christiana – Indonesia Fashion Business Management, joined Fall 2022 I have always known that fashion is the industry I want to do, and with FIT's experiential education, I am able to enjoy various opportunities while expressing my passion in fashion. As a SUNY Korea student ambassador, I will continue to set a high standard within the student body, and to drive others to be passionate and hard-working.