Two new professors have joined the University faculty this semester from different walks of life, and both have experienced a change in culture.
The School of Human Resource Education and Workforce Development welcomed assistant professors Sunyoung Park and Petra Robinson, who hope to use the camaraderie of the University and the unique culture of Louisiana to aid in their research.
Park is originally from Korea, but prior to working at the University, she did post-doctoral research at Indiana University. Her teaching at LSU includes instructional design, distance learning, research methods and human resource development.
Park said she experienced a slight culture shock coming to the University in comparison to Indiana and especially in comparison to Korea. One of the key elements Park said she enjoys about the University is the amount of support and kindness she receives from her colleagues.
She said she had never been to a tailgate before September and was a bit taken aback by the extreme dedication students and faculty had toward their football team and University.
Her research interests include organizational culture, learning in the workplace and sharing knowledge. Park said she is also interested in the integration of human resource development, human performance technology and instructional technology.
Originally from Jamaica, Robinson received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and worked as a research associate at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Robinson said her research pinpoints issues of race, class, gender and color. She especially focuses on colorism and international adult learning. Robinson is eager to work with the community of Baton Rouge and further her research in colorism, she said.
“Louisiana has a good diversity that will be a hot bed for my work,” Robinson said.
Similar to Park, Robinson has experienced great changes in culture coming from Jamaica to Texas then to New Jersey and finally landing in south Louisiana. While these changes in scenery have aided in her research, Robinson believes “people are people everywhere.”
She has been met with supportive and encouraging faculty at the University and has already taken up mentoring University students. Focusing herself on adult education locally and internationally, she hopes to get involved with the local community of Baton Rouge to expand her research and extend a helping hand, Robinson said.
While the two new assistant professors come from different backgrounds, they agree the willingness of University students is exciting, and the support they receive makes their research that much easier.
“Louisiana has a good diversity that will be a hot bed for my work.”