2025-2026 Undergraduate Fellows
Alyssa Bird
I’m currently a senior majoring in Asian languages and cultures with a focus in South Korea. Throughout my studies, I’ve developed a strong passion for language learning and the power of words, as well as a deep interest in fostering cross-cultural understanding through language. Last year, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad at Yonsei University on the Summer in Korea Scholarship. As a half-Korean student, visiting Korea had long been a personal goal of mine, and being able to do so inspired me to join the Nam Center when I returned. Since then, I’ve met so many amazing people! On campus, I am part of the editorial team for the women’s magazine Her Campus, and I’ve also participated in the KLP Language Exchange with students from Seoul National University. In addition, I volunteer at the Michigan Language Center as a conversation partner, where I help non-native English speakers practice their language skills and learn more about American culture. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and playing Wordle.
Leah Phillips
I am a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. I was initially drawn to Korean studies through learning about the Hallyu wave through music and have continued my interest by being an Outreach Fellow for one year, and two years as a Research Fellow in the Nam Center for Korean Studies Undergraduate Fellows Program. The first paper I wrote pertained to exploring the ‘K’ in K-beauty, and the second paper explored the role of South Korea as a vaccine manufacturer during the COVID-19 pandemic. My semester abroad in 2024 through the YISS summer program at Yonsei University allowed me to learn more in-depth about the Hallyu wave while putting to use the two years of Korean language courses and taking part in cultural exchange by meeting a wide array of people. I have volunteered at the hospital for three years, as well as been in two different labs during my time in undergrad. The first is part of the Orthopedic Research Department, and the second is in the Caswell Diabetes Institute. In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting as well as taking advantage of the nature that surrounds us by hiking and watercoloring.
Kathleen Fleming
I'm a freshman majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology on the pre-medical track with a minor in religion. I am interested in helping support both the spread of knowledge and access to resources centered around Korean language and culture at U-M and around the Ann Arbor community, and I am particularly invested in helping to curate more local opportunities for engagement with the less widespread aspects of Korean culture. Outside of academics, I enjoy reading, listening to and making music, gaming, and art.
Madison Beeckman
I'm a fourth year student double majoring in creative writing (where I'm writing a book about cowboys?!) and Asian languages and cultures with a concentration on Korean. When I have free time I like to play video games, read, or try some trendy crafts. The reason I joined the Nam Center is because I wanted to be a part of a community that would teach me more about Korea, but the Nam Center is so much more than that! I've met a lot of amazing people and have eaten a lot of delicious food!
Spencer Lynn
I'm a junior from Saline, MI pursuing a dual degree in business and political science. I've always been fascinated by politics in Asia, and was a Nam Center Research Fellow during the 2025-2026 school year. On campus beyond the Nam Center, I'm involved with Propel Impact Consulting, BBA Council, TedXUofM, Michigan Foreign Policy Council, the Michigan Journal of Economics, among other organizations. This past school year, I conducted startup research for the United States Department of War's Defense Innovation Unit. I hope to obtain a JD/MBA after graduation, and outside of schoolwork, enjoy reading, hiking, poetry, finding new coffee shops, and soccer.
Nicole Pappas
I am a senior studying neuroscience with plans to pursue a career in medicine. I found myself drawn to Korea through its history, language, and traditional arts. Over the years, that curiosity has become a passion for cultural exchange and community engagement.I currently serve as co-president of Sinaboro, a Korean traditional music ensemble at the University of Michigan, where I enjoy introducing others to Korean music and performance. In summer of 2026, I had the incredible opportunity to study seoljanggu (설장고) at the National Gugak Center's training program in Jindo, an experience that deepened my appreciation for Korea's gugak history. I hope to continue creating opportunities for others to experience and better understand Korean culture, especially the aspects that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Through the Nam Center, I look forward to building connections, supporting cultural education, and helping share the richness of Korean culture with the broader community. Aside from my studies, I enjoy crocheting, working out, drinking lots of coffee, and hiking.
Alex Kim
I am a rising senior, double-majoring in political science and Asian studies with a minor in real estate development. My academic interests revolve around how policy impacts the built environment we live within, and how we can leverage this knowledge to shape the future into something that is more equitable and constructive. Korea is a place that is simultaneously familiar and foreign to me in many respects: by engaging in Korean studies on an academic level, something that initially comes off as foreign reveals something universal about the human condition. It's a subject that keeps on giving, and a subject I will take great care to engage with further in the future.
Beyond my studies I'm very passionate about art and culture, and enjoy sharing life's great experiences with my fellow person. To me, no concert, museum or meal is better without good company. This summer I'm planning on seriously improving myself as a musician, foreign language speaker, and cook.
Lydia King
I am a graduating senior studying international studies and political science, with a focus on international security, norms, and cooperation. I am particularly interested in South Korea’s foreign diplomacy and its unique and complex relationship with North Korea, a dynamic with few parallels globally! More broadly, I am deeply passionate about democracy, legal systems, and international human rights. I first became interested in Korean studies through my exposure to Korean music and cinema, which sparked a broader curiosity about Korean history, politics, and society. That interest deepened significantly after participating in a cultural exchange program through EF in Seoul, South Korea, in 2021, where I had the opportunity to engage more directly with Korean culture and daily life. Since coming to the University of Michigan, I have continued to expand this passion as both an Outreach and Research Fellow in the Nam Center for Korean Studies Undergraduate Fellows Program. As a Research Fellow, my work has focused on South Korea’s democratic development and its limitations through the lens of police-perpetrated sexual violence. Through this research, I have become increasingly interested in the tensions that can exist between democratic institutions and lived experiences of justice, particularly regarding gender-based violence and state accountability. This summer, I look forward to further deepening my intercultural engagement with Korea by presenting my research paper at the 2026 BTAA Korean Studies Research Symposium and taking courses through the Yonsei International Summer School (YISS) program at Yonsei University! Outside of the Nam Center, I am also actively involved with Model United Nations at the University of Michigan (MUNUM). Most recently, I served as a chair for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), where I selected committee topics concerning human rights abuses in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and issues surrounding asylum seekers. When I am not in class, I enjoy doing my nails, going on long walks around the Big House or the Arb, and practicing hot yoga.
