Savoy, Illinois, United States
Hi! I’m Yelim Kim, a Learning Sciences and Cognitive Science student at Northwestern University. Growing up in America as an immigrant from a lower-income family, I often had to fight for access to quality education. Navigating these barriers strengthened my independence and strategic mindset, and revealed how many environments aren’t built to help students from all backgrounds thrive. That realization led me to shift from biomedical engineering to the Learning Sciences, where I study how educational systems shape opportunity structures and economic outcomes. I’m driven by questions that help me imagine what the world could look like, not just what it currently is. I aspire to help build environments where people of all backgrounds can thrive—because the ocean becomes richer and bluer when we create ecosystems of collaboration, dialogue, and mutual growth. My experiences supporting nonprofits in education and economic empowerment have strengthened my communication, strategy, and problem-solving skills. I love bringing together diverse voices, facilitating dialogue, and designing solutions that drive meaningful change. Right now, I’m exploring multiple pathways for creating social impact, from consulting and product design to nonprofit and business strategy. I’m seeking opportunities that let me apply my curiosity and creativity to meaningful challenges while supporting myself and my family. 📩 [email protected]
Oversaw planning of recruitments, sorority events, and partnerships with other campus organizations. Collaborated with the executive board to support community engagement and recruitment efforts.
Advised the CEO on a two-pronged HR strategy to address urgent staffing needs while building long-term organizational capacity, including establishing stable funding sources for full-time staff. Collaborated with the CEO to define internship roles and coordinated recruitment with Northwestern’s Civic Engagement Center to secure high-quality summer interns.
Consult with the Director of Youth Programming to enhance social dynamics among high school civic leadership participants; Develop curriculum and training materials for youth facilitators, integrating Learning Sciences research to support engagement and peer learning; Evaluate program effectiveness and provide actionable recommendations for future program iterations.
Led a committee of 3 to develop and maintain a curriculum of 30+ mentorship modules. Planned weekly committee meetings and team-wide social bonding events, increasing workplace engagement by 50% and streamlining cross-functional collaboration. Collected and analyzed data on mentor and student experience to create data-driven strategies for curriculum updates. Coordinated weekly logistics across mentors and school staff in three middle schools, ensuring a smooth, accessible, and secure running of a year-round mentorship program. Contributed thoughtful questions to weekly leadership meetings, mobilizing a team of 15 in a two-month-long project to reassess and realign the mentorship program to students' needs, the competitive landscape, and the nonprofit's mission.