LSU School of Social Work Professor Lily Kim Named 2024 Rainmaker

BATON ROUGE, LA — Youn Kyoung “Lily” Kim, PhD, LMSW, of the LSU School of Social Work, was named a 2024 LSU Rainmaker Emerging Scholar in the areas of Arts, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences. 

Rainmakers are selected by the LSU Council on Research in the Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED). This award is designed to recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in research and creative activity by LSU faculty. 

Dr. Kim’s research focuses on mental health and health-risk behaviors among marginalized communities, with emphasis on youth, immigrants, and refugees. She develops and tests culturally-responsive, community- and school-based interventions to address behavioral health challenges that often emerge among these populations. Dr. Kim’s research interests also include empirical examination of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as depression and substance-using behavior, on the behavioral health among university students. Dr. Kim has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, as well as presented her research findings at nationally recognized conferences, thereby  advancing knowledge and evidence-based practices in the field of behavioral health and among minoritized populations in particular.

Dr. Kim serves as principal investigator on a federally-funded study, Own Your Path, which is a project under the Charting a Course for Economic Mobility and Responsible Parenting program. In addition, she serves as a co-investigator for a grant funded by the Gates Foundation to promote equity in math education. Dr. Kim's community-based initiatives include partnerships with refugee centers in Ohio and Baton Rouge, through which she assists Afghan, Bhutanese, and African refugees in various capacities. In addition, Dr. Kim is a faculty affiliate at Washington University in St. Louis (The Initiative on Social Work & Forced Migration) and at the University at Buffalo (Immigrant & Refugee Research Institute).

"I conduct translational research to develop practical solutions that drive real, meaningful change in communities," Dr. Kim said. "Working alongside community members, colleagues, and students has been incredibly rewarding, providing the foundation that makes this work impactful and sustainable."

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About the LSU School of Social Work
The LSU School of Social Work (SSW) is a vibrant center of intellectual development and knowledge generation, a leader in promoting and supporting diverse communities, and an advocate for an integrated and inclusive model of social work, all within a learning environment that supports best educational practices. The SSW offers Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science, Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) , Master of Science in Human Development and Family Science, Master of Social Work (MSW), online MSW, and Social Work PhD. SSW is part of the College of Human Sciences & Education.

Visit the School of Social Work website.

About the College of Human Sciences & Education
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.

Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.