Lasting impact
Colleagues and alumni reflect on the career of Myungsun Kim on her retirement
By Kevin Manne
Kim
In September, Myungsun Kim retired after nearly 20 years of service to the School of Management, during which she earned a reputation as an esteemed scholar and made significant contributions to the accounting field through her teaching and research.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in history from Yonsei University in 1977, followed by a Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia in 1989, and a PhD in accounting from Purdue University in 1995.
Her professional career began in the banking industry in 1977, where she served as assistant manager of the Industry Bank of Korea for nearly 10 years before her transition to higher education.
Kim’s research has been published in top accounting journals, including the Journal of Accounting and Economics and the Journal of Accounting Research. In total, her studies have received more than 3,100 citations — a significant achievement that will leave a lasting impact on the discipline.
“She was one of my PhD students at Purdue, where I found her to be a meticulous researcher.” says William Kross, professor emeritus of accounting. “Her presence here was a major factor in my move to UB in 2007.”
Beyond research, Kim’s influence is evident in the success stories of her many students.
Robert Kim, PhD ’14, associate professor of accounting at the University of Massachusetts Boston, was a student of Kim’s who says her infectious zest for life and intense passion for research were inspiring.
“Working with her was like being aboard a nonstop train of discovery and innovation,” he says. “Our data-crunching sessions spanned weekdays and weekends, day and night, often fueled by her midnight tea, which was as strong as her research arguments. Thanks to Professor Kim’s tireless dedication, we published our paper in a high-quality journal.”
Another former PhD student, Heeick Choi, PhD ’16, says Kim helped him understand and bring out his talents and abilities.
“I couldn’t have completed my studies without her academic guidance and dedicated mentoring, which has also positively affected my professional career in countless ways,” says Choi, who is now an assistant professor in the Sung Kyun Kwan University School of Business. “She is very helpful, understanding and genuinely cares about the success of her students.”