Image description: Photo of Yoo-Jin wearing a green dress with florals. She is looking into the camera and smiling.
Hi I’m Yoo-Jin!
I use she/her/hers pronouns | Hear how my name is pronounced.
I am a first-generation Korean-American raised in Seattle, Washington (Coast Salish & Puyallup Land) and the DC/Maryland area (Susquehannock, Nentego, & Piscataway Land). I hold two Bachelor's degrees from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Modern Languages and Linguistics, with a concentration in Spanish, and Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in culture and violence.
I am currently pursuing my Master of Public Health at UC Berkeley, where I will focus on the impact of racism on the health of women of color in the workplace.
My background is rooted in intercultural communication, public health, violence prevention, and mindfulness-based healing & facilitation.
I am a 200-hour certified Yoga instructor (with a special interest in trauma-informed yoga), Reiki Energy Healer, and certified in Mind-Body Medicine fundamentals. I approach my work from an anti-racist, person-centered, and trauma-informed lens, recognizing that these frameworks benefit us all.
Currently, I serve as the Senior Advisor, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at the Council on Foundations, where I provide enterprise-level support to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the organization’s programs, offerings, and communications.
Before my role at the Council, I was the Senior Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for Futures Without Violence’s Workplaces Respond program, where I led trainings, curriculum development, and consulting to support trauma-informed workplaces.
Prior to Futures Without Violence, I served as American University’s Coordinator for Alcohol and Other Drug Initiatives at the Health Promotion and Advocacy Center. Within my role, I directed and managed the alcohol and drug intervention program, where I provided trauma-informed, culturally sensitive alcohol and drug intervention practices for students and their families. In addition to my full-time role at the center, I founded and co-led the university’s People of Color (POC) Faculty and Staff Affinity group and served as the Vice-Chair of Staff Council.
I specialize in working with & creating workshops for:
First-generation BIPOC folks
BIPOC Staff
Asian & Asian-Americans
Women of Color
Survivors of violence and trauma
People in recovery
When I’m not at work: I am hiking in nature, spending quality time with my kitten, practicing yoga & meditation, and baking vegan sweets!
My Training & Education.
Masters of Public Health, UC Berkeley 2024
Bachelor of Arts, Modern Languages & Linguistics- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychosocial & Cultural Perspectives on Violence), University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Karel Public Interest Communications Fellow
Stingray Artist Residency 2021
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate- University of South Florida
Racial Justice Leadership Institute - Race Forward
Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies Certificate- Collectively Rooted, Dr. Linda Thai
Mental Health First Aid- Mental Health First Aid Inc.
Motivational Interviewing - Motivational Interviewing Network
Healthy Masculinity Training Institute - Men Can Stop Rape
Mind-Body Medicine Fundamentals- The Center for Mind-Body Medicine
40-Hour IPV Advocacy Training - Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training- The Mindfulness Center
Reiki I Energy Healing- The Mindfulness Center
What People are Saying…
Leadership & Awards
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Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) Fellow
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Astrophysics REDI Consultant
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Women Leaders Emerge Fellow
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Founder & Chair of Futures Without Violence's Transformative Justice Learning Group 2021
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Founder & Chair of Futures Without Violence's Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group 2021
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Inclusive Excellence Award 2020
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Vice-Chair of AU Staff Council 2019
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Board Member-at-Large Yoga Service Collective 2020
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Founder & Co-Chair of American University’s People of Color Staff & Faculty Affinity Group 2019
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President’s Council on Diversity & Inclusion Mini-Grant Recipient 2019
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Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society Circle Leader of the Year Award 2015
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Honors College Leadership Award 2015
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Karel Public Interest Communications Fellowship 2014