Vol. 6 [UTAKA News] Leadership Transition in UTAKA’s PR Team

• The PR Committee’s function of the University of Texas at Austin Korea Alumni Association (UTAKA) has been moved under the Membership Development Committee.
• Chaewon "Joanne" Kim (ILA ’17), who served as the inaugural PR Committee Chair, concluded her term on April 18 following the close of the first Texas Global Alumni Summit.
• Now part of the Membership-Development Committee, the PR team will be led by Vice Chair Soojin Park (GOV ’21). The team will oversee UTAKA’s communication channels, event promotion, and the posting and management of social media content, with a focus on Instagram, LinkedIn, and KakaoTalk Open Chat.

Chaewon "Joanne" Kim (ILA '17)

• On how she came to serve as PR Committee Chair
  “I ended up taking on the role after losing a game of rock–paper–scissors when we were deciding the PR Committee Chair last year. It was an extremely busy time for me, and I wasn’t confident I would do well—honestly, I wasn’t very keen on it at first. However, through many conversations with the leadership team, I learned a great deal.”
• On her work, reflections, and a message to the alumni community
  “As part of the leadership team, I developed a strong sense of attachment to the association. I managed our Instagram and Facebook accounts as part of our PR efforts. At the beginning, LinkedIn was not included in our scope. We chose to focus on Instagram and Facebook because we were still in the early stages of understanding the character of the association and its members, and we wanted to better reach younger alumni.
  “I feel a real sense of regret stepping down as PR Committee Chair. I’m deeply grateful to the UT alumni community for giving me this opportunity. As I relocate to the Netherlands following my marriage, I will be stepping away from this role, but I hope to stay connected and continue engaging with everyone. While I will no longer serve as Chair, I plan to remain active as a working member of the PR team. Now that the Global Alumni Summit has taken place this year, we also plan to activate LinkedIn more actively. From the Netherlands, I will contribute wherever I can to support the Korean alumni community. I understand that the second Texas Global Alumni Summit is set to take place in London in 2027, which is easily accessible by train from the Netherlands. I even imagine attending as a correspondent for our association. One thing is certain—however I can, I want to continue contributing to our alumni community. Thank you again. I hope to see you all again in good health.”

Soojin Park (GOV '21)

• Goals moving forward in the PR role
  “Chaewon did an outstanding job in the team’s first year, so my immediate goal is to build on that foundation.
  “Beyond that, I want to engage more closely with a broader range of alumni in Korea, regardless of age or title.
  “By managing multiple channels, I hope to share content tailored to each platform and promote UTAKA more effectively.”
• On taking on the PR leadership role
  “There was a recommendation from the President, but more than that, I wanted to take on the challenge. I believe managing our social media channels requires a proactive mindset and the kind of energy that keeps pace with current trends.”
• Looking ahead for UTAKA
  “I hope we continue to do our best in our respective roles, support one another, and grow into a community that represents UT alumni abroad.”