Soo-Young Hong

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Soo-Young Hong

Associate Professor

Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Contact

Address
CPEH 373
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
Phone
4024131554
Email
shong5@unl.edu

Watch Soo-Young Hong Faculty Profile Video

Soo-Young Hong’s research focuses on empowering early childhood educators to positively impact the development and learning of young children for which they provide care and education. Soo-Young’s research topics encompass areas in which early childhood educators express greater needs for more research-based knowledge, skills, and professional development opportunities: enhancing early childhood educators’ capacity to (a) teach young children science concepts and practices and (b) work with young children with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of abilities. In all her research projects, Soo-Young attempts to examine how early childhood educators reflect on their observations and experiences in ways that impact their practices and children’s learning and development.

Current Research Projects:

  • Preschool Science Talk in Action and Reflection (PreSTAR)
  • Infant Care Decision Making (ICDM)
  • Early Childhood Learning and Inclusive Practices and Strategies (ECLIPS) 

Courses Taught:

  • CYAF 160 Human Development and the Family (ACE 6 course)
  • CYAF 832 ECFP: Using Policy Framework to Examine Early Childhood Services and Issues
  • CYAF 920 College Teaching Practicum and Seminar
  • CYAF 972 Theories of Human Development and Family Relations 

Dr. Hong currently supervises student research in the following program areas:

LAB: Leveraging Early Education: Advancing Research in Nebraska (LEARN) 

Education

Ph.D., Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
M.S., Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
B.S., Child and Family Studies, Yonsei University, South Korea
B.A., Education, Sung-Shin Women’s University, South Korea

Areas of Expertise

  • Early childhood professional development in the areas of science education and preschool inclusion
  • Early childhood interventions and their effects on children's learning

Honors and Recognition

  • 2024-2026, Member, Big Ten Early Learning Alliance (https://btela.osu.edu)
  • 2022, CEHS Faculty Student Mentoring Award
  • 2021, CEHS Donald R. and Mary Lee Swanson Award for Teaching Excellence
  • 2020, Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GP IDEA) Faculty Excellence Award
  • 2019-2021 Alan T. Seagren Associate Professorship in Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2015, CEHS Distinguished Teaching Award, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2011, Program Fellow, Research Development Fellows Program (RDFP), Office of Research and Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2009, Outstanding Ph.D. student, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University

Experience

  • 2015 to present, Associate Professor of Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2023-2024, Faculty Lead for Program Assessment, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2020-2023, Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2009 to 2015, Assistant Professor of Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • 2008, Limited-term Lecturer, Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
  • 2004–2008, Research Project Assessment Coordinator, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
  • 2002–2004, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University
  • 2001-2002, Graduate Assistant Teacher, Child Development Laboratory, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University

Memberships

  • Faculty Affiliate, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools
  • Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  • Council for Exceptional Children: Division for Early Childhood (CEC/DEC)
  • National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)