Wooksoo Kim
Associate Professor and Director of Immigrant and Refugee Research Institute at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work
Dr. Wooksoo Kim, an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, serves as director of the Immigrant and Refugee Research Institute (IRRI). As a social work researcher, she is committed to the creation and dissemination of practical knowledge, aimed at improving the lives of immigrants and refugees. She utilizes a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in conjunction with the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework with the belief that the research process, as well as its outcomes, should contribute to the well-being of the populations under study. Dr. Kim prioritizes mutually beneficial collaborations between academic researchers and immigrant and refugee communities in her work. Currently, her current research projects include studying Karen health literacy, evaluating a workforce development program with a focus on refugees’ economic integration, and developing a manufacturing skills training program using VR technology to enhance economic stability among refugees.