By Anna Nicholson · Contributing Writer
From the United States, back to South Korea, to Maryland and then to Grove City, Rudy Sunrin Kim found her way to Grove City College as the newest professor in the communication and design department.
Kim grew up as a third-culture child because she spent most of her formative years outside her country of origin. She first came to the United States in kindergarten. According to Kim, most of her formation happened in the United States, though she is a South Korean native.
“It was a bigger culture shock going back to South Korea,” Kim said.
She completed part of her undergrad in South Korea and part of it in the United States. Kim said she is comfortable traveling between countries, but because of the frequent back-and-forth, she never feels settled in either the United States or South Korea.
Because of her connection to her home country, Kim has a travel course planned for students to go to South Korea with her in 2028. She is very excited to bring this future travel course to the department.
While finishing grad school in Maryland, Kim started looking for jobs around the country with a focus on the academic field and near the East Coast.
She learned Grove City College was looking for a new communication arts professor, and though she never thought about working for a Christian college, the college’s strong faith background led her to apply.
“I felt I was in the right place,” Kim said upon her visit to campus after her interview.
Kim said her experience as a professor at the college has been great so far. “The students are invested, and my colleagues have been friendly and helpful,” Kim said.
Kimberly Miller, chair of the communication and design department, has been helping Kim get settled in her new job and helping her find out which classes would be best for her to teach.
“(Kim) is pleasant, supporting and encouraging — communication skills on point,” Miller said. Miller said she has gotten good feedback from Kim’s students about her calming presence in the classroom.
Freshman Greta Reiter said that her class experience with Kim has been positive.
“She allows space for interesting discussions in class and uses her own experiences as illustrations of concepts we learn about,” Reiter said.
It was a very busy season for Kim as she prepared to work for Grove City. Though it was busy, she was excited.
“I have a new job, and I have somewhere to go,” Kim said.
Kim has always enjoyed college and desired to teach in general communication classes. She said being a general communication education professor would give her more freedom with the class material and allow her students to challenge themselves.
Miller said she is enthusiastic about Kim’s plans for the department, and the energy Kim has already brought to the college has encouraged her.
“I think it’s a good fit,” Miller said. “I’m excited for this.”
