January 6, 2025
Dr. Su Yon Pak, an esteemed academic theologian and educator, has taken on the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees at the United Board since 1 July 2024. Her journey to this position is rooted in a rich tapestry of personal history and professional dedication, marked by her passion for Christian values and a progressive approach to interfaith dialogue.
Dr. Pak's upbringing in South Korea and subsequent immigration from Seoul to the US at the age of 10 deeply influenced her spiritual and cultural identity. Her family's Presbyterian roots go back to the mid-twentieth century when her maternal grandmother converted to Christianity. "The whole family were practicing Christians,” recalled Dr. Pak. “My father was active in church and in the resistance movement against Japanese colonialism. Christianity was really a part of our life, our family legacy."
The Pak family settled in New York City where Christianity continued to define and shape the lives of the Korean immigrants. Growing up in a Korean-American Christian community was formative for Su, as she is known to United Board trustees and staff, leading her to study theology and a career of service at the church. Her academic path led her to a doctorate from the joint Teachers College Columbia University–Union Theological Seminary program in Religion and Education. Trained in Practical Theology, she sees herself as an educator who cares deeply about the spiritual and ethical formation of religious communities.
She has been a part of Union Theological Seminary since enrolling as a student in 1994, and after graduation, has assumed different mantles. Â She served as Dean of Students for six years before transitioning into development work, focusing on fundraising and institutional advancement. Currently, she is the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean, where she directs and teaches in the theological field education program for Master of Divinity students. Dr. Pak emphasized the importance of contextual education, stating, "Often we think about knowledge as what we learn from books. But any information from the page has to be tested or integrated with the knowledge acquired or embodied from doing the work on the ground and in context."
Dr. Pak's commitment to contemplative practices is central to her theological teaching. She distinguishes contemplation from the popular notion of mindfulness, explaining that, "Contemplation is a way to understand oneself in connection with others, and not just to other human beings but with all of creation and with God. " Her non-dualist approach draws from both Christian and Buddhist traditions. Alongside her Christian belief and identity, Dr. Pak is a practicing Buddhist. She is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church in the US.
Her involvement with the United Board began in 2016 when she first joined as a non-trustee member of the development committee through introductions by Dr. Boyung Lee and Dr. Michael Gilligan, trustee and then Board Chair, respectively. A year later, she joined the Board and chaired the development committee after Dr. Gilligan retired from the United Board.
Dr. Pak was drawn to the organization’s commitment to Christian higher education and interreligious engagement. She remarked on the importance of maintaining a clear Christian identity for meaningful dialogue with other religious traditions: "The most authentic engagement starts with naming and claiming one’s identity, not to proselytize but to unapologetically state the Christian values that both inform and shape our work."
Before assuming her current role as Chair, Dr. Pak was treasurer and served as chair of the finance and administration committee. This experience provided her with crucial insights into the organization's financial operations. Despite her extensive administrative experience at Union Theological Seminary, Dr. Pak found initial challenges in finance but embraced it as an opportunity for growth. She said, "I was not afraid to dig in and try to understand all of the aspects—compliance, audit, investment, etc.—that ensure the financial well-being of the United Board." Her tenure on this committee deepened her understanding of trustees’ fiduciary responsibilities, which she described as "one of the top responsibilities for all trustees."
As Chair, Dr. Pak aims to focus on three main objectives: reaffirming the United Board's Christian identity, enhancing Board development, and crafting a strategic plan for its future. The first objective involves engaging in thoughtful dialogue about what it means to be Christian while being open to working with institutions in Asian countries with diverse religions and cultures. The second focuses on clarifying trustees' roles and responsibilities to ensure effective governance. “These can then be formally articulated in a strategic plan together with the priorities and long-term goals that align with our mission,” she said.
Dr. Pak is sure of these objectives’ importance to the development of the United Board as it begins its second century of service. She believes in being open to others’ thoughts and views and would create the necessary space in which trustees and other members may debate and deliberate on relevant issues. This approach will ensure that Board decisions are informed by collective insight and collaboration.
Dr. Pak chairs the meetings of the full Board, as well as those of its executive and compensation committees. As Chair of the Board, she is also an ex officio member of every standing and other committee, not to mention ad hoc task forces and advisory committees. Undoubtedly a packed calendar, but that will not diminish her dedication to whole person education and service learning or her championing chaplaincy and spiritual care on campuses across Asia. Her leadership promises to guide the United Board through a period of growth while staying true to its foundational values amidst an ever-evolving educational landscape.
