On Friday, September 30th, 2022, the Bronx Science community had the honor of hosting Dr. Jung Pak ’92 at the Bronx Science Famous Speakers Forum, an event where Bronx Science hosts distinguished speakers across a variety of disciplines. Past speakers have included everyone from Eleanor Roosevelt, Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson ‘76 and more. 

Dr. Pak is a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and for Global China issues with the U.S. Department of State. She spoke to an auditorium full of current students about her academic and professional journey. In the interview, Dr. Pak discussed what her career entails, why she chose her career path, and how her time at the school – as well as other factors – helped her get to where she is today.

After graduating from Bronx Science in 1992, Dr. Pak pursued further education at Colgate University, where she is now a Trustee Emerita and a recipient of an honorary doctorate, followed by Columbia University, where she received her PhD. Dr. Pak also studied in South Korea as a Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Pak previously worked for the CIA as a Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Korea at the National Intelligence Council, was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and authored Becoming Kim Jong Un. Dr. Pak currently works for the State Department as a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and for Global China issues and a Deputy Special Representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). 

Dr. Pak appreciated being a part of the Famous Speakers Forum because she believes that especially now, our world needs educated and eager people working in government positions. She noted that she discovered her interest in international affairs and decided she wanted to pursue a career in that field while she was still in high school. She expressed hope that by speaking to Bronx Science students, she will inspire a similar interest in being connected with the society you live in and understanding the importance of politics and diplomacy. 

Dr. Pak understood that the prospect of having a job – let alone a job in the government – was a distant reality to many current students in her audience. She bridged the gap to her audience by remarking on having to take the 4 train again for the first time in a while, discussing how classes at Bronx Science (many of which current students are taking today!) sparked her interest, and detailing the steps that led to her career today. By sharing her impressive achievements in such a relatable way, Dr. Pak embodied the objective of the Famous Speakers Forum – to make accomplishing great things seem like a possibility to current Bronx Science students. 

As the interview concluded, Dr. Pak left the audience with a powerful message that even as a student, you can be influential in society and your own life. Current Bronx Science students left the auditorium with flyers containing information and instructions about how they could become involved in government through social media, internships, and other pathways. Dr. Pak’s story is a compelling and inspiring one, and a reminder to all Bronx Science students – graduates, current students, and future ones –  that achieving great things is possible. 

By sharing her impressive achievements in such a relatable way, Dr. Pak embodied the objective of the Famous Speakers Forum – to make accomplishing great things seem like a possibility to current Bronx Science students.