Building Partnerships
Forged University Alliances to Launch Korea Internship Program
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While serving as Public Affairs Officer in South Korea, initiated and led a first-ever internship program for Korean college students on U.S. Army bases. Established formal partnerships with top universities and executed a targeted communications campaign—earning praise for advancing U.S.-ROK goodwill and cross-cultural engagement.
Meeting with the President of Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, on June 2, 2004, to discuss a strategic partnership with the Department of the Army’s Korean Installation Management Agency.
While serving as a Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Army in South Korea, I recognized a growing concern highlighted in a RAND Corporation report: younger, college-educated South Koreans were increasingly skeptical of the U.S. military presence near urban areas like Seoul. To counter this sentiment, I look at ways to improve relations between the U.S. military and South Korean university students. Pioneered, developed, and launched a first-of-its-kind internship program that provided Korean college students with practical work experience on U.S. military installations while offering them meaningful exposure to American culture. Secured formal partnerships with Sookmyung Women’s University and Kookmin University, respecting cultural protocols through in-person meetings and tailored outreach. Implemented a multi-pronged communications campaign—including newsletters, posters, and PSAs—ensured strong program visibility and stakeholder buy-in. The program successfully fostered goodwill, strengthened cross-cultural understanding, and established lasting academic partnerships, enhancing the U.S. Army’s public image among South Korea’s next generation of leaders.