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Name: Dr. Danny Kim
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: History
Academic Degree(s):

• B.A. - Oregon State University
• M.A. - University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin-Madison

How long have you worked at Fresno State?
I started in the fall of 2021, right at the tail end of the pandemic. It was an unusual time – I actually accepted the job offer without ever having seen Fresno in person. My experience with Fresno was limited to a hyperlinked PDF map of the city, complete with videos filmed by members of my department of sites of interest.

Are you from the Valley, or did you come here from somewhere else?
I have lived all over the United States and abroad – Atlanta, Lincoln, San Luis Obispo, Madison, Los Angeles, Seoul, Korea; Tokyo, Japan; Kunming and Yanji, China – but consider Corvallis, Oregon my childhood home.

What drew you to work at Fresno State, and what has kept you here?
There were a lot of factors that drew me to Fresno State. The university’s high marks on metrics of social mobility really caught my eye; I liked the idea of being a part of an institution that helps to empower students in their careers. Also, during the campus visit (over Zoom), I could tell that the department was close-knit. One of the faculty had several cats, for example, and another member of the search committee knew all the cats by name. It was clear that there was rapport amongst the faculty.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
Most students might not be aware, but the History Department has a lot of musicians and athletes, with quite a few who pursued these endeavors either professionally or semi-professionally. If you’re in a history class, the odds are good that the instructor was either an athlete or musician at some point in their lives.

What accomplishment or project are you most proud of in your career?
My first study abroad trip ranks pretty high on the list of accomplishments. It took quite some work, but I was able to get outside funding and was able to take a great group of Fresno State students to Seoul, Korea in the summer of 2023. Finishing my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a close second.

What do you enjoy most about your workday?
I enjoy in-class discussions and connecting the students’ responses with the lecture content. Getting chocolate from Dr. [Lori] Clune’s office is a close second.

What’s one fun or unusual fact about you (past job, hidden talent, unique experience)?
I started out as a biomedical engineering major in college. When I started school, I did not imagine studying history, let alone one day becoming a history professor. It’s important to pursue your passions in life!

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?
I am an avid amateur powerlifter and am currently training for my first competition in February of next year. I also enjoy playing jazz guitar and drums.

Anything else you’d like your colleagues to know about you?
I usually have extra Keurig K-Cups if anyone runs out.