Vanderbilt’s residential college experience is a special aspect of student life at the university, rooted in authentic connection and engagement. Undergraduate houses and colleges are led by faculty, with their families and pets, who live in community with students, creating another vibrant layer of learning and community. Meet the university’s newest faculty heads of house and heads of college in this special series.
Jeong Oh Kim, senior lecturer in the department of English, is the faculty head of the Nicholas S. Zeppos College.
Kim’s research examines 19th century British literature and Anglo-American literary culture and re-interprets it for scholars and students of diverse nationalities and disciplines. He also studies the histories and conflicting theories of geography as they relate to literature in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Name: Jeong Oh Kim
- Residential college: Nicholas S. Zeppos College
- Years at Vanderbilt: 7
- Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
- Favorite song: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
- Favorite book: Robinson Crusoe (1717) by Daniel Defoe
- Favorite food: Spicy pork bulgogi with kimchi
- Favorite spot on campus: Benton Chapel
- What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming academic year? I am excited to host faculty salons with a Korean Bapsang, a culturally rich table talk with a wide array of dishes—veggie kimbap, steak kimbap, japchae, bulgogi, dumplings and you name it. We can cook them together as a happy cultural experience. Eating always delights our hearts, doesn’t it—eating at a dinner table with your beloved members of family, eating with such delectable smells to your nose. I look forward to hearing students’ stories of eating and opinions on eating ethically or eating responsibly.
- Why did you want to be a faculty head of house? I always wanted to engage more closely with my students. I want to be a faculty head who will bring parental care and love to residential college. As a father of my beautiful family, I devote myself to fulfilling the happiness of home. As an educator in classroom teaching, I commit myself to making a safe learning environment for all. I’d like to provide the real home environment for my students. I hope to become the faculty head who will discuss all aspects of college life and have everyone’s best intentions at heart.
Jeong Oh Kim, senior lecturer in the department of English, with his family playing Yut Nori in their Zeppos College residence (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt)
Jeong Oh Kim, senior lecturer in the department of English, with his family playing Yut Nori in their Zeppos College residence (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt) - What do you value about the residential college experience? The residential college experience provides students with a safe community and a home environment. As an educator, I have observed that students respect diversity and learn such important skills such as perspective-taking and critical thinking when they belong solidly to safe and collaborative social settings that guarantee opportunities and resources. As a foreign-born student and scholar who loved English literature, I know by heart how essential home is. I couldn’t stand here without my family’s love and support. There is nothing like home when one feels tired and loaded with heavy burdens. They can come and rest in this nurturing home of Zeppos. They will be able to renew their strength for tomorrow.
- What does your family think about living on campus? My family wholeheartedly supported my decision to serve as a faculty head. They are excited to live on campus. My wife, a lover of gardens, is planning to decorate the patio with plants and flowers; my daughter, who is the soul of my life, will become my next-door neighbor. She will come home from campus to campus; and my last one, who is an eighth grader, is going to explore more into campus on a bike soon.
Jeong Oh Kim, senior lecturer in the department of English, with his wife Yeon (far right) and their children Solmin and Hamin (Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt) - What advice do you have for new and returning students coming to campus? I’d like to encourage new students and returning students alike to make the best use of what is given at any time. Secondly, I want to say that we study at Vanderbilt not simply for ourselves but for the others—community, nation and the world; we are here to create a life worthy of ourselves and of the missions Vanderbilt sets for the world through research, education and service. Lastly, but not the least, I’d like them to find a balance between work and rest. They can go outside for fresh air, spend enough time in nature or write a journal to reflect on everyday life for 15 minutes a day. I hope that our students will learn eventually to take a holistic view of professional and personal life rather than ignore the fact that they have a family, friends or outside interests and commitments.
- What do you love about working at Vanderbilt? I love engaging with my students. Our students are truly gems in our higher education at Vanderbilt. I still remember one of my students saying, “This is not a class; we are the family.” I am happy to work in this close-knit intellectual community. I believe that our students are equipped with the 3 VCs—Vanderbilt Character, Competence and Compassion. I hope that they will grow and mature into exemplary citizens of the community and their professions.
- Anything else you want people to know about you? Some say I am a family man, gentleman and committed teacher; others say I am funny. And I fancy that I have a quirky sense of humor, though I am not good at breaking the ice. I have found myself making the ice icier, but I can pull a good laugh oftentimes. I enjoy friendship and love playing sports. Why don’t you come to challenge me to play table tennis? Then, you can see me how I play!
Read about other faculty heads of house in this special series.
