Professional Interests

My research has focused on understanding how individuals use new media technologies to make sense of both the political landscape and the wider information environment. I have an additional specialization in social informatics, the study of the social aspects of computerization. My recent research projects exmaine how young citizens learn about public affairs and broad politics using new media technologies, particularly in the U.S. and South Korea. These studies primarily explore the role information technology plays in creating informed citizens, with added focus on the psychology and culture of digital media users. (Check out a sample of my publications.)

Focused in these areas, I teach graduate courses on Human-Computer Interaction, Information Analytics, Organizational Informatics, Social Media and Organizations in the Information and Library Science (ILS) Department at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University Bloomington. At the undergraduate level, I have taught Computer and Information Ethics in the Informatics Department at the Luddy School (2018-2019).

I like to help my students prepare for their conference presentations and publications, and my students have presented their works at national and international conferences. [For example: Christie, J., Soe, Y. (2022). Ideas for Spotify Customization: Enhancing the User's Experience. In: Stephanidis, C., Antona, M., Ntoa, S. (eds) HCI International 2022 Posters. HCII 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1580. Springer, Cham. AND Seo, Harim, and Soe, Younei (2018). Voice unlock function. In C, Stephanidis (Ed.), HCI International 2018 – Poster's Extended Abstracts. Springer, Cham. These students did the project as a class assignment in my Human-Computer Interaction class.

NEW: I received 2022 Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award.

NEW: I am teaching an undergraduate course for the Hutton Honors College at Indiana University. An article written by an IU honors student introduced my course in the Indiana University Journal of Undergraduate Research. The article, titled Learning What the Buzzwords Mean: Big Data and AI in the Hutton Honors College introduces my course: Social Impacts of Big Data (HON-H238 Politics and Communication Seminar).

NEW: I am an affiliated faculty in Indiana University's Data Science program. I will offer Social and Ethical Impacts of Big Data (Fall 2022), a core course for the Data Science program. 

NEW: I am part of the Online Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taskforce at Indiana Univerisity, a committee for developing a new online AI certificate for Indiana Universtiy.

In 2016, I was nominated by a graduating student for SPECIAL RECOGNITION for having made a significant difference for the student’s journey through Luddy (Celebration of Women in Luddy, March 30, 2016).

Professional Background

I previously worked at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C., where I coauthored an article on the digital divide in Korea with senior economist Catherine Mann. This article expanded on my master’s thesis from Georgetown University’s Communication, Culture, and Technology Program. At Georgetown, I developed an interest in the social sciences. Prior to this experience, my interest in the humanities and liberal arts led me to study applied linguistics and linguistic semantics in the English Department at Arizona State University, where I received my first master’s degree.

Selected Awards

My dissertation, NEW MEDIA, YOUTH, AND POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION, won the 2012 Herbert S. Dordick Dissertation Award from the Communication and Technology Division of the International Communication Association, the largest international academic association of scholars in media and communication studies.