Yoon Kyung Pak

Yoon Kyung Pak is a Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the Education Policy, Organization and Leadership department in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Asian American Studies program. Her research focuses on the history of American education in the 20th century, particularly its intersections with racial minorities and immigrant groups.

• Ph.D., University of Washington, 1999

Her work combines intercultural education, social justice, and systemic racism in educational contexts. Recent publications analyze topics like cultural wars in education, online graduate programs, and diversity in Asian American literature for high school curricula.

Current research trends include historical analyses of educational policies, critiques of systemic racism, and investigations into modern pedagogical practices for diversity and inclusion. She also explores the application of mixed-methods studies in educational assessment.

She serves as the Head of the Education Policy, Organization and Leadership department and contributes to the Center for Global Studies and Illinois Global Institute.