SXSK Vol. 5 — April 15, 2026

Editor’s Note

Alternating Between Two Worlds At the inaugural Texas Global Alumni Summit taking place this week, two worlds will meet: Texas and the global stage on one hand, and Korea on the other. This issue of SXSK explores that point of intersection—where seemingly distinct worlds come into dialogue. In the Publisher’s Letter, we look at how Korea and Texas are deepening their engagement through a growing mutual interest, and how this momentum comes together in Seoul this week—through a series of Texas-led events taking place from the 15th through Saturday (April 15: Texas IBA Meeting; April 16–18: the inaugural Texas Global Alumni Summit)—as two worlds meet in a meaningful and successful way. In UTAKA News, we begin by introducing three new Social Committee leaders who have joined the community. We also share highlights from April’s First Thursday gathering, which once again brought together a vibrant mix of familiar and new faces. In Alumni News, we reflect on the life and legacy of Savitha Shanmugasundaram (MIS & ECON '26), who tragically passed away following the March shooting on West 6th Street. Building on her lifelong commitment to expanding educational access for underserved communities, her family and friends have established a donation-based scholarship fund, through which UT plans to support the tuition of 8–10 students annually. In UT Member Interview, we highlight the professional expertise and career aspirations of Chaewon "Joanne" Kim (ILA ’17), who has been serving as a bridge between Korean and global companies. In UT Stories, we cover the ongoing restoration of key historic facilities at UT. While preserving their architectural heritage, the university is also updating these spaces to meet modern standards, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also highlight how UT’s colleges, the Moody College of Communication and the Jackson School of Geosciences are expanding both curriculum and faculty in response to the evolving demands of the AI era. In Texas News, we examine both deepening collaboration and emerging legal tensions between Korean companies and the state of Texas. We also look at recent policy changes to SNAP (food stamps) in Texas, specifically the exclusion of sugary drinks and candy, and consider what this shift may mean for low-income individuals managing diabetes and hypoglycemia. Finally, in our Lifestyle section, we explore the upcoming Summit’s dress code—cocktail attire and business casual—as a shared social language for professionals gathering across cultures.
—Ji Hyun Ahn / Editor-in-Chief / GER ’21

Publisher’s Letter

John Kim (PGE ’05), Publisher of SXSK and President of the University of Texas at Austin Korea Alumni Association opens his letter by highlighting the recent rise in mutual interest between Korea and Texas. He points to a series of Texas-led events taking place in Seoul from the 15th through Saturday (April 15: Texas IBA Meeting; April 16–18: the inaugural Texas Global Alumni Summit), noting that they bring Korea and Texas—two worlds—together here in Seoul in a meaningful and successful way. He goes on to introduce the alumni association’s efforts leading up to this moment and the path ahead, and encourages fellow alumni to take an active part not only in this week’s events but also in the association’s future initiatives.
→ Read the full letter

UTAKA News

🗞️ Social Committee Welcomes New Members
UTAKA welcomed three new members to its Social Committee leadership this April: Young Joon Lee (ECE '20), Dana Jeon (MPA '23), and Dagyeong Kwak (MPA '25). Please join us in congratulating and warmly welcoming them to the team.
→ Read more

🗞️ First Thursday Gathering in April
On April 02, the April First Thursday gathering was held in Gangnam, Seoul, co-hosted by Sun Kyu Park (CS '03) and Dong Uk "Dean" Lee (iMPA '19). With many first-time attendees joining, the evening was especially lively and welcoming.
→ Read more

Alumni News

🗞️ Scholarship Established in Memory of UT Student Savitha Shanmugasundaram
In memory of Savitha Shanmugasundaram (MIS & ECON '26), who tragically passed away following the March 01 shooting on W 6th Street, her family and friends have launched a scholarship fund. With a $500,000 fundraising goal matched by University of Texas at Austin, the initiative aims to establish a $1 million endowment supporting tuition for 8–10 students annually from Title I schools. Reflecting her lifelong commitment to giving—through educational content, coding tools, and full donation of proceeds—the university is now administering the scholarship and accepting contributions.
→ Read more

UT Member Interview

🗞️ Chaewon "Joanne" Kim (ILA ’17) Part 2 of 2
This interview spotlights the career and professional perspective of Chaewon "Joanne" Kim (ILA '17). With eight years of experience in global business spanning Korea–Europe trade and partnerships, she identifies trust-building and a deep understanding of local language and culture as the core values of overseas sales. She also highlights localization—crafting messages that truly resonate in-market—as her key strength. She will soon relocate to the Netherlands, with a long-term goal of serving as a bridge between Korea and Europe, particularly Korea and the Netherlands.
→ Read more

UT Stories

🗞️ UT Austin Presses Ahead with Tower and Battle Hall Restorations
Major restoration and renovation projects are underway this spring at Main Building and Tower and Battle Hall. The Tower project includes repainting, installation of cast-iron spandrels, and limestone façade repairs, with completion targeted for summer 2027. A new welcome center will be added while preserving all historic elements. At Battle Hall, ADA-compliant elevator upgrades and interior restoration are in progress, with the library expected to reopen this fall.
→ Read more

🗞️ Moody College Announces Three New Minors
Moody College of Communication will introduce three new minors—digital game industries, advertising, and radio-television-film (RTF)—starting in Fall 2026, open to students across all majors. The game industries minor will feature new coursework and industry speakers, while the RTF and advertising minors are designed around film production and storytelling, and applied communication skills, respectively.
→ Read more

🗞️ Jackson School of Geosciences Expands AI Integration Through New Hires and Coursework
Jackson School of Geosciences is expanding its undergraduate curriculum to integrate AI, with new faculty hires and courses launching this fall. Newly appointed assistant professors Dapeng Feng and Fa Li will teach and conduct research combining physics-based modeling with machine learning in hydrology, water resource management, and climate-related land systems. The school is also pursuing joint faculty appointments with the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences, and will host the “HydroML” symposium in May.
→ Read more

Texas News

🗞️ SK Signet and City of Plano, Texas Strengthen Partnership Around North American EV Charging Infrastructure
On April 02, Mayor John Muns and city officials of Plano, TX visited SK Signet’s headquarters in Korea to discuss EV charging infrastructure expansion, local manufacturing capacity, and public–private collaboration. Since establishing a production base in Plano in 2023, the company has installed over 3,000 ultra-fast chargers across the U.S., and introduced a new 400kW integrated charger with 96.5% energy efficiency during the visit.
→ Read more

🗞️ Samsung SDI Battery Lawsuit Heads to U.S. Supreme Court — Jurisdiction at the Center
In a lawsuit filed by Texas residents over alleged fire damage linked to Samsung SDI batteries, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed the case, ruling that Texas courts lack jurisdiction because the company did not directly distribute batteries to consumers in the state. The plaintiffs have appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. The case could set an important precedent on the legal liability of foreign manufacturers supplying products to the U.S. through third-party distribution channels.
→ Read more

🗞️ Texas Market Entry Mission (TMEM) Opens Recruitment for Korean Companies
Applications are now open for the Texas Market Entry Mission (TMEM), a seven-day industry tour designed for C-level executives of Korean companies considering expansion into Texas. The program includes visits to Dallas, Austin, Taylor, and Houston, offering site tours, working sessions, meetings with government officials, and tailored itineraries. Led by former Consul General of Houston, Youngho Jung, the program aims to support on-the-ground, decision-oriented market entry rather than passive information gathering.
→ Read more

🗞️ Texas SNAP Ban on Sodas and Candy: Health Experts Raise Concerns Over Low-Income Diabetics and Hypoglycemics
As of April 01, recipients of SNAP (food stamps) in Texas can no longer use benefits to purchase sugary drinks and candy, affecting approximately 3.1 million low-income residents. Two professors at University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing note that many recipients live in food deserts with limited access to alternatives, raising concerns about the policy’s real-world effectiveness. They emphasize that addressing structural barriers and expanding nutrition education may be more impactful than restrictions alone, while also pointing to equity concerns given the absence of similar limits for higher-income groups.
→ Read more

Lifestyle

🗞️ The Devil Wears Prada Is Back — And So Is the Question of What to Wear
With The Devil Wears Prada 2 set for its first release in Korea on April 29, we take a moment to highlight dress code guidance for attendees of the Texas Global Alumni Summit. For the April 16 gala dinner, cocktail attire is recommended. For the April 17 main sessions, business casual is suggested. Rather than a rule, the dress code serves as a shared social language when professionals from diverse backgrounds come together.
→ Read more

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