Faculty

As a Research Assistant Professor of Technology, Innovation, and Learning at the USC Iovine and Young Academy, Dr. SeoYoon Sung investigates learning innovation and the future of work, exploring the intersection of technology and human practice in evolving work and learning environments. She focuses on how disparate skills and knowledge—particularly those centered on, and evolve around, computing and technology—can converge to drive new innovations that support shifting work dynamics. 

Dr. Sung was a postdoctoral research scientist in Information Science at Cornell University, where she advanced innovative learning practices in interdisciplinary computing. Her work designed and assessed the integration of skills and knowledge across increasingly interconnected knowledge domains such as HCI, computing, programming, design, and ethics. She earned her Ph.D. in Information Science at Rutgers University, studying how emerging workplace technologies reshape cross-functional knowledge and work processes in the tech sector. She also holds a Master’s degree in Organization and Leadership from Columbia University. Dr. Sung has published in leading venues, including CHI, Computers & Education, and the Academy of Management. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations such as NBCUniversal, Inc., the United Nations, and NYC Department of Education.

As the Principal Investigator for the IYA-Verizon Learning Innovation Research Initiative ($1M, funded by Verizon), Dr. Sung is currently exploring new learning and innovation models advantageous for the future of work: facilitating cross-domain learning at the intersection of technology, design, and business innovation. By analyzing and assessing learning practices and innovation across IYA’s creative courses, experiences, and spaces, Dr. Sung developed the Challenge Based Reflective Learning (CBRL) model. Through various empirical work, she is assessing its applicability and impact across diverse domains—including AI, entrepreneurship, product innovation and materials science—both within IYA and in broader contexts such as workplaces, K-12, and community settings. 

For more information about her work, visit Dr. Sung’s website.