Min Gyung Kim, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Hongik University
M.S. in Hospitality Business ‘05, Eli Broad College of Business

Min Kim excelled as an English literature and international studies student at her home university in Korea—so much so that she was selected to participate in a one-year student exchange program at a university in Canada. She says she dreamed of one day earning her Ph.D. and becoming a university professor.

Her dream came true but not in the way one would have expected.

Kim began working for a hotel as she was concluding her undergraduate studies. This position helped her discover her passion for the hospitality industry, which led her to Michigan State’s acclaimed hospitality business program where Kim pursued her master’s degree. 

“I attended MSU on an International Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. This experience gave me a great opportunity to introduce myself and Korean culture to the community, including a presentation where I proudly wore traditional Korean hanbok,” says Kim.

Initially, Kim had planned to return to the hospitality industry after earning her degree. However, as she progressed further into her studies, Kim took advantage of each opportunity as it presented itself.

“During my time at MSU, I became very interested in research, which eventually led me to pursue a Ph.D. and continue on to an academic career,” Kim says.

After earning her Ph.D. at Penn State, Min worked as a faculty member in the MBA program at Johnson & Wales University. She is currently a faculty member in the College of Business Management at Hongik University, where she teaches marketing courses, including consumer behavior and digital marketing. 

“My research area is service marketing, grounded in consumer behavior. Recently, I have been focusing on various sustainability issues in the hospitality areas,” says Kim.

“MSU is where I began my graduate journey. I had the opportunity to visit places like New York for school events, which broadened by perspective both personally and professionally; but above all, the most meaningful part of my time at Michigan State was the people I met— friends who have become my lifelong best friends.”