UCSD - University of California - San Diego
09/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/08/2025 10:29
New GEPA Dean Has Deep UC San Diego Roots
Story by:
- Jen Jordan- [email protected]
Published Date
September 08, 2025Article Content
"UC San Diego is the perfect place for me."
For Judy Kim, the new dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA), those words define her 20-year career at the university.
A Southern California native, Kim joined UC San Diego as an assistant professor in 2005, rising through the ranks to earn tenure and lead initiatives before she assumed the role of GEPA's interim dean on July 1, 2024. One year later, she was appointed permanent dean after a nationwide search.
Throughout her career, Kim has mentored countless students through her research group and been an active member of professional societies and community outreach. Now, as dean of GEPA, she is dedicated to supporting and advocating for graduate and professional students as well as postdocs at UC San Diego.
UC San Diego Today sat down with Kim to learn more about her vision for GEPA, her goals for the program and where you'll find her hanging around campus.
Tell us about yourself.
UC San Diego was the only place I applied for a faculty position. During my postdoc at Caltech, a position at UC San Diego came up and I said, 'This is the perfect place for me.' I'm from Southern California and I love the UC system.
I've been so fortunate. I've had a great career at UC San Diego, first as an assistant professor, then getting tenure, becoming vice chair of education and eventually becoming a full professor and also joining GEPA. I always tell people one of the best times in my career was being a postdoc, so being part of GEPA is really special to me.
Can you share your academic background?
In undergrad at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I was a chemistry major but switched to meteorology for my Master's degree because of my interest in atmospheric science. Ultimately, I realized that chemistry was where I wanted to be, so I earned my doctorate at UC Berkeley in chemistry. I developed an interest in biophysical chemistry and spectroscopy, an experimental field at the intersection of physics, chemistry and biochemistry; we study proteins, but we use the tools from physics. The field includes a lot of instruments and biochemical work, primarily lasers and proteins, so anytime a student works with me, they learn great transferrable skills for biotech and other analytical fields. The topics we study are fundamental in nature, but relevant to human health. For example, a current project focuses on antimicrobial peptides, which are small proteins that comprise the innate immune system of humans and many other forms of life. We want to understand their interaction with cell membranes.
I love having a small group. I'm in the lab working directly with the grad students on a regular basis, and I'm grateful I can still do that.
What interested you in taking on this role?
There are so many great aspects to this role. I still have a research group and I love mentoring. I've had 30 TAs at one time and I understand how important it is to be a mentor to a TA. I've graduated students, worked with postdocs and collaborated with both undergrads and graduate students. That experience has been crucial.
My role with GEPA tends to have a bigger-picture view. While I may not be able to meet with individual students as much as I have in the past, I can focus more on policies and practices that make a big impact on students. I also work more closely with collaborators across campus. Especially now, it's very important to have someone in this role who has a passion for the broader view while still keeping in mind that we must support the individual needs of every student and postdoc.
Dean Kim's Top Picks
A 20-year career at UC San Diego has led to a lot of favorites for Kim. We asked a few rapid-fire questions to learn more about her, including where she likes to "hang."
Favorite place on campus:
The top of Snake Path by Geisel Library. I love to sit at the bench there that overlooks the Warren Hall area and Fallen Star.
Something surprising about you:
Most people don't know that I have a degree in meteorology. There was a time when I was really interested in weather prediction. I also like to play backgammon. When I have time, I will participate in a backgammon tournament.
Favorite place to eat at UC San Diego:
I'm always eating on campus. I go to Starbucks a lot, and I also like the boba teas at Fan Fan. I'm also at the Art of Espresso quite often, and 64 Degrees is the cafeteria next to my office, so you'll often see me there.
What you do on campus in your free time:
I have some personal goals in terms of fitness, so I like to walk on campus or go to the gym. I enjoy going to the bar park near the tennis courts at Muir. You can hang, you can stretch, you can do pull-ups, which I've been trying to do recently. It's a place for me to let my body relax.
Best moment of your UC San Diego career:
When I was awarded my first grant. It was from the National Science Foundation for a project that investigated membrane protein folding, a process that has implications for so-called 'misfolding diseases' such as some neurodegenerative diseases. That was such an exciting time, I took my team out to a Thai restaurant in La Jolla when we found out, and I still vividly remember that outing.
What does your day-to-day look like?
GEPA is the administrative home for graduate and professional students and postdocs. Typically, once the student starts reaching milestones-advancing to candidacy, getting ready to file their thesis or dissertation-that's when they're engaging with us directly. We also focus on community building and cross-campus efforts that engage with students and postdocs throughout their entire careers.
In terms of my day-to-day, I spend a lot of time with the GEPA team and related partners and also engage with my counterparts from the other UCs. This past year, I served on a subcommittee for government relations, where we focused on the promotion of graduate education and postdoctoral training to Capitol Hill and Sacramento. I also work closely with the Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor, and other campus leadership to advocate for and promote GEPA and our role in supporting students, postdocs and programs.
After 20 years at UC San Diego, Dean Kim still cherishes her time in the lab. This photo was taken early in her career.
In your experience teaching undergraduates and working with GEPA, what is the difference between the undergraduate and graduate and postdoc experiences?
One of the big differences in GEPA is that the academics and the structure of programs are guided by the programs themselves, so it's not as unified as an undergraduate program.
For example, most undergraduate chemistry majors will take the same classes. At the graduate level, it's quite different. The departments set the standards, the expectations and the experience, and we're here to support that. GEPA can be compared to one of the colleges, but for graduate and professional students. However, we don't play as prominent a role in the details of the academic program as an undergraduate college or major.
What are your goals in this role?
Right now, there's a lot of uncertainty in the departments and the programs. I want to ensure that our programs and students have a voice. We advocate to the UC Office of the President, working very closely with the Chancellor, who is very supportive of what we're doing. I want folks to know that I'm here to support them. My priority is to strengthen the support very directly for our programs, our students and our postdocs. I'm someone that people can reach out to, whether they're a student, postdoc, staff or faculty. I want to be accessible and be someone who can get them answers.
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