Final Word with Dr . Sue Kim Park

While international travel and in-person learning has been diminished greatly, Dr . Park and the Office of Contextual Education have worked hard to honor this vital part of a Columbia Seminary education . Still, we wanted to know more so we are giving Dr . Park the Final Word…

Dr. Sue Kim Park joined the Columbia community as the Director of Contextual Education and International Partnerships, and Assistant Professor of Contextual Theology in 2020.

If you had to choose another job, what would your dream job be?

I do like my job quite a bit. But if I were given the option to change my career and get a do-over, I’d become a health care technician. My spouse is in the military and we are a long distance family because it is hard to juggle two demanding careers. I see that health care workers are always in demand and their jobs are not restricted to locations.

What are you reading these days?

Students’ papers... ‘tis the season. Living Compassion by Andrew Dreitcer.

What is your most used emoji?

Face palm.

If you had to choose a theme song to play every time you walked in to a room, what would it be?

Larger Than Life by Backstreet Boys (no judgment!) [Editor: None here!]

If you could take a class on anything, what would you want to learn?

How to knit.

What is your personal mantra, best self-advice, or motto?

One day at a time.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Many things: doctor, vet, a movie star (I’m relieved that I never wanted to be a dancer), Latin teacher, etc.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

When I was so confused about so many things as I was getting ready to graduate from seminary, a mentor said: “Go baptize, marry, and bury people. That will teach you a thing or two about life” .

What is the phrase you say too often?

“What the hell!?” Followed by some things I wouldn’t want to put in writing. COVID has caused so much pain in my office. With contextual immersions getting ready to begin, I am holding on by a thread.

Can you share your “guilty pleasure?”

Lucifer on Netflix.

Do you have a favorite common saying?

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom (There is a biblical proverb that would beg to differ.)

If you could spend a month anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A beach. Anywhere.

What’s your favorite place to go in Atlanta or Decatur? Have not explored much, yet. I’ll take recommendations!

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