by Luke Butner

As you may have known, Dr. Katie Carpentier left the biology department of Greensboro College last semester. In her place, Dr. Yul Sim was hired by GC. She is teaching microbiology and general biology courses, and she has made herself at home here at GC. The Collegian had the wonderful chance to interview Dr. Sim about her prior experiences and her first few weeks at GC.

Before coming to GC, Dr. Sim taught as a postdoctoral instructor at High Point University.  She said that teaching at HPU was her first time teaching, and that she taught cell biology, genetics and senior seminar. However, before teaching, Dr. Sim had a lot of experience in mentoring academic research labs, most notably at the renowned Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Dr. Sim jumped ship from HPU to GC in hopes of finding a stable job. As a postdoctoral instructor, her position at HPU was not a permanent experience. Since she wanted to stay in Summerfield with her husband and two children, she focused on finding a teaching position somewhere in the Piedmont Triad area, where she found the opportunity to teach here at GC.

Dr. Sim her first few weeks in this role have been pleasant, although busy. She said she has been trying to acclimate to the school and adjust to the new content for her classes. Dr. Sim added that she loves the labs and the homely atmosphere on campus. She also mentioned that she loves her office because of the large bookshelf space and the window that overlooks the walkway between the Proctor Halls. “GC really feels like home. I feel very comfortable and excited to come to work every day” she said.

Dr. Sim is really looking forward to working here at GC, and already has big plans to invest in our microbiology labs through grants. She wants to one day be able to research, particularly upgrading our Microbiology lab from a biosafety level 1 lab to a biosafety level 2 lab so that she can study more interesting species of microbes in a safe environment.

In her spare time, Dr. Sim likes to watch shows, movies, and read novels, “Of course I do not really have that much time because of working [and] taking care of children and house chores. Whenever I have time though, I like to do those things.” Dr. Sim added that she is a huge fan of the fantasy and RPG genres of media, and has recently been watching the “Rings of Power.” Outside of those hobbies, she loves spending time with her family and children, saying, “It would be very nice if I could unwind every day, but at least I have work [and] home balance, so when I come home after work, watching kids does not feel like work. It feels more like a break.”

Dr. Sim is very passionate about mentoring students on the importance of the work and life balance. “I think work and life balance is very important. My entire perspective of life was changed after I got married. There are many factors that dictate student’s lives – like money, time, etc. So of course, you need to consider all of that to make the best decision for you.” She mentioned that it is very difficult to do everything that you want to do as a student, which is why it is important to prioritize the important things first while also managing the small number of resources you are given as a student. “I think I will want to advise students that while you are still young, it is ok to make a mistake, as all those experiences will give you a chance to form a more meaningful path in the future. Try whatever you want to do when you are young, as the time never comes back, and get wiser with your experience. I say this so that when you turn 80 or 90, you will have no regrets.”

Not only is Dr. Sim an awesome addition to our biology department, but she is also an amazing person. She has a lot of experience, both inside and outside of the laboratory, which makes her very wise and both a great professor and mentor. We are excited to watch her become integrated into GC culture and to see what other classes she will teach in the future.