Young Generation ForumAlumni Program in the Americas

YGF Alumni Americas RepresentativeBenjamin Lee, PhD

July 8, 2014

Goal of YGF Alumni Program

• Encourage bonding and building network among YGF alumni

YGF Alumni in Americas

• North America has 428 YGF alumni– That’s 1/3 of all 1,285 alumni over 12 years

– Canada has 93 alumni

– USA has 334 alumni

– How many are still connected to the network?

YGF Alumni Activities

• 35% of North American YGF alumni – Join KSEA in the USA • Korean-American Scientists & Engineers Association

– Join AKCSE in Canada• Association of Korean-Canadian Scientists & Engineers

– YGF alumni reunion at KSEA or AKCSE events like…

YGF Alumni Activities

• Ygnite!

– The Annual Young Generation Technical and Leadership Conference

– Started in 2005 modeled after YGF– Held in various US cities in January for 2.5 days– 200+ Americans and Canadians– Can attend multiple times–Many YGF alumni apply

YGF Alumni Activities

• UKC and CKC

– US-Korea Conference– Canada-Korea Conference– Large technical conference for all ages– Each held in August has a YG program– Some YGF alumni attend

YGF Alumni Activities

• Student (YG) Chapters

– Canada has 12 university chapters– US has 26 university chapters–Workshops and socials are held– YGF alumni come back inspired

Alumni Representative Background

• Benjamin Lee– 2nd generation– YGF 2003 alumni– Ygnite 2006-present alumni– KSEA organizer 2009-present– Currently research scientist at software startup– Fellow YGF 2003 alumni still in touch

• Bo Kyung Jung (Korea), PhD, Samsung in Korea• Jungsook Yang (Korea), PhD, NetApp in Silicon Valley• Sungyong In (US), Patent Lawyer in Washington D.C.• Rebeca Hwang (US), PhD, CEO of YouNoodle in San Francisco

Future YGF Alumni Plans

• What made YGF alumni networking difficult?– No formal alumni organization until now– Lack of funds for official meeting– Can only attend YGF once– Students move after graduation– Contact information changes– Grow older and get busier

Future YGF Alumni Plans

• Immediate Plan– Facebook group per YGF year and one for all years– Local reunion dinners in major cities• Seoul is an ideal place to reunion when someone visits

– Recover lost contacts through fellow alumni

Future YGF Alumni Plans

• Medium-Sized Ideas– Allow repeat YGF attendance• Once during undergrad and again in graduate school

– Meet at UKC, CKC, EKC (European) meetings• KOFST host reunion session (KUSCO with NSF interns)• KOFST provide travel support for Korean YGF alumni

– Expand participation to South America such as Argentina and Brazil

Future YGF Alumni Plans

• Big Idea Proposals– Sponsor official YGF reunions in each country• Each science society (like KSEA or AKCSE) submits

proposal for special funds set aside by KOFST• Country alumni representative organizes• Technically themed

– Hold another YGF but for successful working professional alumni ages 25-40• Like universities hold for 5, 10, 15 year reunions• Provide less travel support

End

• Thank you!