Jung Sim Jun

Jung Sim Jun is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Kansas State University's College of Arts and Sciences, with affiliate appointments at the Center on Aging and Johnson Cancer Research Center. Her work focuses on health disparities and cancer literacy among minority and immigrant older adults, particularly Korean immigrants and American Indian populations.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Missouri-Columbia (2017)
• M.S.W., Wichita State University (2012)
• B.Ed., Kang-Nam University, South Korea (1997)

Dr. Jun's research examines psychological, social, and physical health among older adults through culturally tailored approaches. Her current projects include gastric cancer prevention for Korean immigrant elders using mobile health applications and breast cancer screening literacy among American Indian women. She investigates technology acceptance, social support networks, and mental health outcomes among rural and minority elders, with significant work on depressive symptoms among caregivers of HIV-affected children in Namibia. Her methodology integrates cross-cultural perspectives and community-engaged research to address health inequities.

Her publication record (2019-2022) reveals three dominant research streams: mental health of older caregivers in HIV-affected communities (particularly in Namibia), technology adoption among immigrant and rural elders, and cancer health literacy interventions. These works consistently emphasize cultural adaptation, community-specific barriers, and interdisciplinary collaboration between social work, public health, and gerontology.

Scientific Awards:

• NIH AREA R15 Grant (2022-2025) as Co-PI for cancer literacy research
• Scholar in Global & Intercultural Competence Award (2022)
• K-State Global Campus Excellence in Online Teaching Award (2021)
• Teaching and Mentoring Award from K-State Honors Program (2021)
• Multiple internal university grants for immigrant health research (2019-2022)
• Minority Fellowship Program Fellowship (2015-2017)

Dr. Jun actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in research projects related to gerontology and health disparities. She has secured over $500,000 in research funding including NIH grants and university awards for pilot studies on gastric cancer prevention among Korean immigrants and technology-based interventions for rural elders. As Faculty Advisor for Phi Alpha Honor Society and member of the Community Advisory Committee, she bridges academic research with community practice. Her work at the Johnson Cancer Research Center focuses on developing culturally appropriate mobile health applications for high-risk populations with elevated cancer incidence rates.