Yale University has announced the appointment of Buddhist studies scholar Hwansoo Kim as the next head of Morse College, with his term set to begin on 1 July. The appointment was confirmed by Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis, who expressed appreciation for outgoing head Catherine Panter-Brick, who has served in the role since 2015.

The position of college head at Yale carries significant responsibility within the university’s residential college system, a hallmark of its undergraduate experience. Heads oversee academic and social life within their colleges, supporting student development while fostering a sense of community.

Kim joined Yale’s faculty in 2018, following nearly a decade at Duke University, where he also held a residential leadership role. His background in student engagement and interdisciplinary scholarship was highlighted as a key factor in his selection.

A specialist in Korean Buddhism and East Asian religious history, Kim’s academic work has focused on situating Korean Buddhist developments within broader regional and global contexts. His research challenges narrowly defined national narratives by examining the exchange of ideas across borders, particularly among Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Buddhist communities.

In remarks shared following the announcement, Kim said, “It is truly an honor to serve the students of Morse College and to continue fostering a community where they feel supported, connected, and at home.” (YaleNews)

Dean Lewis emphasized Kim’s extensive service at the university, noting his work in building academic collaborations and supporting students: “His service spans departmental, university-wide, and international contexts, reflecting a sustained commitment to collaborative governance, student support, and cross-disciplinary scholarship.” (YaleNews)

Kim’s path to academia has been shaped by lived experience as much as formal study. Raised in South Korea, he entered a Buddhist monastery as a teenager and later served as a chaplain during his military service. These early experiences informed his ongoing interest in leadership, ethics, and community life.

His involvement in reform efforts within Korean Buddhism, alongside the country’s broader democratization movement, contributed to a sustained engagement with questions concerning religion and political authority. This intellectual trajectory led him to further studies in Japan and Germany before completing graduate work at Harvard University.

Kim is the author of two widely recognized monographs, Empire of the Dharma: Korean and Japanese Buddhism, 1877–1912 (Harvard University Press 2013) and The Korean Buddhist Empire: A Transnational History, 1910–1945 (Brill 2019). Both have received international accolades, including recognition from the Association for Asian Studies.

At Yale, Kim has contributed to institutional leadership through roles such as chair of the Council on East Asian Studies. In addition to academic initiatives, he has supported student-led efforts including Baram, a mentorship program assisting young North Korean defectors in the United States.

Kim will serve alongside his wife, Rev. Sumi Loundon Kim, a Buddhist chaplain at Yale, who will take on the role of associate head of Morse College. Her work reflects a broader trend of increasing visibility for Buddhist chaplaincy within Western universities.

“As the next head, I hope that Morse will always be a place for the true exchange of ideas, genuine friendship and small kindnesses to others,” Kim said before an audience of Yale students and faculty. (Yale Daily News)

The appointment highlights the growing presence of Buddhist scholars and perspectives within higher education in the United States. Although Buddhists comprise a relatively small percentage of the US population, their intellectual contributions have expanded through academic programs, interfaith initiatives, and global research networks.

Kim’s five-year term begins at the start of the 2026–27 academic year, marking a continuation of Yale’s emphasis on residential education grounded in both academic rigor and communal life.

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Hwansoo Kim named the next head of Morse College (YaleNews)
Hwansoo Kim, religious studies professor, named next Morse head (Yale Daily News)

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