Research
Overview
My research interests are grounded in the belief that when students are encouraged to bring their whole selves into educational environments and feel that their cultural, linguistic, and personal identities are valued, they are more likely to experience belonging and to thrive academically and personally.
My research projects center on exploring how institutional and systemic barriers can be lowered so students can thrive while bringing their full identities into school spaces. Across my projects, I focus on how students from minoritized backgrounds can be supported in ways that recognize and affirm the diverse knowledge, strengths, and lived experiences they bring with them. My work centers Korean American and immigrant-origin communities and uses qualitative inquiry to understand identity, belonging, and access.
Research Areas
Current and prior projects
- Examines the relationship between comfort or familiar food and Korean American students’ sense of belonging on campus.
- Focuses on how food access and cultural familiarity shape students’ interpretations of care, inclusion, and campus climate.
- Investigated how K–12 school district websites in California share information about interpretation and translation services.
- Focused on accessibility, visibility, and how language access information is communicated to families.
- Explored Korean American students’ experiences with racism during COVID.
- Examined self-identification as first-, 1.5-, or second-generation Korean American and how generational positioning shaped identity and belonging.
Publications
Presentations
Conference, invited, and scholarly presentations
- Hong, D. “Not on the Menu: Korean American Students’ Reflections on Campus Food and Belonging.” Roundtable presentation at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
- Hong, D. “Eating Together, Standing Strong: Food, Legacy, and Belonging among Korean American Students.” Panel presentation at the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) National Conference.
- Hong, D. “Beyond the Hype: Critical and Inclusive Uses of AI for Student Success.” Workshop presentation at the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE) National Conference.
- Hong, D. “Using AI as Your Study Buddy.” Invited speaker at the Black AI: Inclusive Innovation for All Conference.
- Hong, D. “A Study Buddy, Not a Shortcut: An Asset-Based Approach to Cultivating Ethical Usage of AI.” Poster presentation at the AI Community of Practice Spring Symposium.
- Hong, D. “Feeding Diversity: Toward Culturally Sustaining School Food.” Poster presentation at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
- Hong, D. “Interpretation and Translation Service at K-12 School District Websites.” Guest lecture in ED 197: Special Topics in Education, Gevirtz School of Education, UC Santa Barbara.
- Hong, D. “Provision and Accessibility of Interpretation and Translation Services on K-12 School District Websites.” Roundtable session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
- Sattin-Bajaj, C., Romo-González, M., & Hong, D. “Building Classroom Relationships Through Photovoice.” Roundtable session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
- Sattin-Bajaj, C., Barrera Alcazar, J., Hong, D., & Romo-González, M. “An Expanded Framework for Preparing Teachers to Educate Children of Immigrant Backgrounds.” Paper session at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
- Hong, D., Su, J., Barrera Alcazar, J., & Romo-González, M. “Teacher Preparation for Immigrant-Origin Children.” Paper session at the GGSE Research Symposium.
Media & Public Engagement
Scholar features and public scholarship