Dartmouth's Kim Speaks to Harvard Students

Newly-appointed Dartmouth College President Jim Young Kim met with Harvard students last week as part of a discussion sponsored by HGSE's Asian Coalition for Education and the Harvard Foundation. During Kim's candid talk, he addressed issues in education, plans for Dartmouth College, and his experience as an Asian American.

Kim, who will assume the role as the 17th president of Dartmouth College on July 1, will be the first Asian American to head an Ivy League institution. Dean Kathleen McCartney introduced Kim as someone who has had a "profound impact on organizations" around the world and a promising, well-respected leader. "In accepting this invitation we know what type of leader he will be — generous with time and an eagerness for students," she said.

Born in Korea, Kim came to America with his dentist father and philosopher mother settling in Iowa. Kim admitted to students that early in his studies he spent time searching for his own racial identity eventually realizing that it is "not the fact that I'm Korean or Korean American, but that I'm so privileged."

Harvard College student Weijie Huang, asked Kim whether the recent appointment of Asian Americans to prominent positions in institutions including the White House indicate that Asians have "made it" and if there is any danger in saying this.

"Are we living in a post-race society? Absolutely not," Kim answered, noting that it would be a mistake to think that despite President Barack Obama's election that a racial United States doesn't exist. "On the other hand, I think it's pretty remarkable that Dartmouth would choose me as president."

When Kim assumes new role, he plans to work closely with the graduate schools and also is exploring teaching a course for undergraduates, something he said is among his favorite experiences.

He also made a plea for assessment in higher education and finding ways to properly measure outcomes. "If I can put in a plug [for anything], I think I'd put it into the school of education," he says.

Katherine Yang, Ed.M.'09, asked Kim what his first 90 days of office will look like.

"They are going to be very quiet," Kim quipped. "Larry Summers says it's amazing how little power you actually have as president..." But Kim said he would focus his initial energy on being a "good anthropologist" and getting a sense of how Darmouth works and figuring out the people. "If I can get that in the first 90 days, then I will be pretty happy," he said.