Jihyun Kwon, PhD

Experience

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  (Multiple)

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2012

  Mentor, educator & settlement supporter for refugees, at-risk youths & children

  » Daegu Juvenile Correctional Institution, Ministry of Justice, S. Korea» North Korean Refugee Support Program, Alpha United Church, Toronto» After-school Program, St. Monica Elem. School, Montreal» Daesung Foster Home, S. Korea» Live-in Caregiving Program, Al Karam Orphanage, Morocco

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  Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2012

  Assistant Director of Education & Financial Manager

  ⬤ Co-administered & co-organized one of the only public primary schools available to a population of over 90,000 refugees fleeing civil war and famine in Somalia⬤ Facilitated scholarships for 48 children in the camp without parental care w/ no previous access to school ⬤ Co-designed & co-led fundraising initiatives for educational programs strategically using available data, doubling school funding by drawing upon both international organizations and celebrities⬤ Ensured financial accountability and transparency by managing donor databases and funds and maintaining records to support strategic decision-making and reporting Show less

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  Center for Research-Action on Race Relations

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2012

  Intern

  ⬤ Drafted complaints for victims of illegal arrest, police violence, and discriminatory policing for submission to the Ethics Commissioner and the Human Rights Commission. ⬤ Interviewed and proactively supported victims during mediation and case assessment meetings to mitigate harm/bias⬤ Analyzed & identified patterns of unethical law enforcement practices and conducted research on police-community relations and performance evaluations of police oversight systems across Canada, US, UK, and Australia Show less

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  Scadding Court Community Centre

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2012

  Intern & Workshop Co-Lead

  “The Ontario Police Complaints System Forum: Perspectives from the community, police and policy-makers”⬤ Led 5+ educational workshops for the local community and NGOs at public venues & supported victims express their voices and concerns to policymakers⬤ Helped to coordinate a multi-sectoral, province-wide forum and organize discussions on policy-sensitive issues ⬤ Designed surveys, interviewed, & drafted reports capturing the experiences of police misconduct victims

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  City of Toronto

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2013

  Research and Public Outreach Assistant

  ⬤ Prepared policy briefs & advised on Council business and municipal committee meetings (e.g., health, transit, environment) ⬤ Executed residential surveys & wrote quantitative data-based communication materials on imminent local issues ⬤ Liaised w/ various government agencies, media, community organizations, civil society representatives, & residents/volunteers

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  University of Toronto

  Jan 2013 - Jan 2020

  Topics: (1) criminal & administrative police oversight delivered through the courts and other human rights/administrative agencies, covering different stages (e.g., complaints, screening, investigation, adjudication, and judicial review), (2) race-, gender-, and identity-based discriminations, code of conduct violations & democratic reform, (3) rule of law, procedural justice, jurisdictional boundaries, internal and external coordination, (4) bail and pretrial detention, segregation, prison management, legal aid, and duty counsel systems; (5) equity and bias relating to mental health, sex/gender, race and Indigeneity⬤ Secured & managed appx. $400,000 research fund through internal and external grants⬤ Designed & executed mixed-method research (e.g., in-depth interviews w/ policymakers, gov. officials, & public clients; legislation, regulation, & policy analysis; statistical, policy document, & case law analysis)⬤ Performed critical literature and policy reviews & legal compliance and performance evaluations ⬤ Contributed to interdisciplinary research, engaging w/ public administration, administrative law, criminology, sociology, and political science through a wide array of publications & presentations⬤ Mobilized knowledge by translating research findings into impactful narratives, influencing public discourse through academic, policy, and community platforms (Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, CBC, etc) Show less

  • Teaching Assistant (curriculum levels: BA/MA/PhD)

    Jan 2015 - Jan 2020

  • Doctoral Researcher

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2020
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  St. Stephen's Community House

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2016

  Consultant, Needs Analysis & Research

  ⬤ Conducted a comprehensive data-informed needs assessment for programs supporting homeless and disadvantaged children in marginalized neighbourhoods across Toronto, providing evidence-based, actionable insights for resource allocation⬤ Developed policy and program evaluation frameworks, integrating funding requirements, community standards, and best practices to attain effective results and long-term sustainability

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  Simon Fraser University

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2017

  Research Assistant

  Comparative research (BC, ON) on the experiences of arrest, police custody, court procedures, bail practices, pre-trial detention, and court file analysis

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  Criminological Highlights Review

  Jan 2017 - now

  Advisory Member

  **Funded by: Department of Justice & Dr. Geoffrey Hinton (AKA 'Godfather of AI' & Nobel Prize in Physics laureate)⬤ Performed bi-monthly quality control on domestic and int’l publications, evaluating study design, analytical approaches, accuracy of evidence and narratives, and presentation for evidence-based policy/program interventions and data strategies⬤ Advised and edited quarterly reports, ensuring strategic messaging and accuracy, which were circulated to key governmental and academic stakeholders in policy and program design to promote evidence-based interventions Show less

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  Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2020

  Advisor to the Independent Expert (internal/external oversight)

  ⬤ Developed data compliance and performance audit reports containing 25 actionable recommendations (e.g., the Ministry’s accommodation of Human Rights Code-related needs and compliance w/ the Human Rights Tribunal’s consent order on Jahn)⬤ Conducted institutional visits and cross-functional stakeholder consultations for accurate fact-finding, collaboration, and practical solutions (e.g., senior, mid-level, and frontline staff, union and community representatives, & other governmental units).⬤ Led province-wide tactical and operational data-based oversight, aligning w/ 30+ deliverables that pertained to annual data production, analysis, and publication to enhance transparency and accountability of carceral practices⬤ Successfully drove legislative reforms, establishing a solid and consistent procedural framework for segregation oversight and positioning Ontario’s legislative landscape as one of the most progressive in the country Show less

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  법제연구원 (Korea Legislation Research Institute)

  Jan 2020 - Jan 2024

  Researcher & Legal Translator (ad hoc, external)

  **Under the Prime Minister's Office's National Research Council for Economics, Humanities, & Social SciencesTopics: (1) ethical governance, accountability, and oversight of judiciary; (2) corporate social responsibility and due diligence, disclosure obligations, organizational, legal, reputational, and financial risks, and compliance frameworks; (4) governance and oversight of robotics and AI; and (5) social economy⬤ Analyzed domestic, European, and international legislation, regulations, and standards & translated to reflect accurate comparative and contextual policy nuances⬤ Conducted jurisdictional and environmental scan for best practices and comparative policy implications⬤ Independently wrote & published briefs and reports for legal practitioners and policymakers Show less

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  University of Toronto

  Jan 2021 - now

  **Report to VP, People Strategy, Equity & CultureTopics: (1) violations of the UN Mandela Rules (segregation), the Bangkok Rules (women prisoners), and the Tokyo Rules (young and mentally ill offenders), (2) human rights compliance, regulation, governance, justice sector & penal reform (access to justice, healthcare, spiritual/religious services), (3) technology & modernization in the criminal justice system (federal & provincial), (4) youths, mentally ill, and Indigenous women in prisons, community corrections, and pre-sentencing stage, and (4) decolonization, equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility⬤ Led & managed concurrent and collaborative research/advocacy projects & supervised research assistants⬤ Conducted critical evaluations and analyses of law, policy & procedures to inform reform/intervention⬤ Drafted & edited affidavits for class action lawsuits against the Govs. of Canada & Manitoba⬤ Analyzed governance and oversight structures ⬤ Documented discriminatory and legally incompliant regulations, policies, standing/post orders, and practices in youth and adult prisons⬤ Authored & presented compliance findings to int’l and domestic policy and academic audiences Show less Courses taught:» CRI3020: Policymaking in the Criminal Justice System (Grad seminar)Key stages of the policy cycle and foundational policy-making theories (Experiential learning in partnership with the Black Legal Action Clinic & others)» CRI210: Criminal Justice (Undergrad lecture)The police, prosecution, courts and juries, trial and sentencing, community and institutional corrections, bail and surety, legal aid and duty counsel, access to justice » CRI2010 : Methodological Issues in Crim & Sociolegal Studies (Grad lecture - mandatory)Research design, sampling, surveys, questionnaires, data analysis & presentation; construct, internal, and external validity; strengths/weaknesses of various methodologies» CRI491: Regulation & Oversight of the Criminal Justice System (Undergrad seminar)» CRI491: Oversight of Law Enforcement – Accountability, Transparency & Good Governance (Undergrad seminar)Police/prison oversight, the how & why of oversight failures through the critical examination of the existing criminological, regulation, governance & public administration literature.⬤ Designed & implemented innovative curriculums on applied policies and practices for 100+ undergrad, MA & PhD students, integrating a structured evaluation framework w/ quantifiable success metrics, continuous performance monitoring, & managed Teaching Assistants⬤ Coordinated & assisted w/ accessibility services, directly addressing challenges faced by youth navigating complex educational & societal systems⬤ Spearheaded multi-sectoral partnerships w/ 25+ external stakeholders to strategically drive reform & support equity-seeking groups, incorporating diverse views & experiences (Ex/ Legislative Assembly, Standing Committees’ Procedural Services Branch, Ombudsman, OAG, SOLGEN’s MH & Additions Unit)⬤ Recognized for wide-ranging expertise & innovation in training and pedagogical approaches⬤ Secured & managed sandbox funding to develop and implement experiential learning strategies Show less

  • Postdoctoral Fellow in Governance & Oversight

    Oct 2022 - now

  • Course Instructor (curriculum levels: BA/MA/PhD)

    Jan 2021 - now

  • Tribunal Adjudicator (Office of the Governing Council)

    Jan 2021 - Jan 2022
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  (Multiple appointments)

  Jan 2022 - now

  Expert Policy Consultant

  » Senator Brent Cotter, Senate of Canada | 2023 » Mass Casualty Commission [Independent public inquiry], Govs. of Canada & Nova Scotia | 2022⬤ Provided strategic advice and expert consultation for Senator Cotter’s Keynote Address at the Annual Professional Development Conference, Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (CACOLE)⬤ Offered a comprehensive analysis and actionable recommendations for more efficient and effective civilian oversight of the federal and provincial police, highlighting key themes and challenges impacting equity-seeking groups based on academic research, policy reports, media sources, and international best practices Show less

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  Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC)

  Nov 2024 - now

  Chair (Professional Development Committee) & Board Member (New Professionals Network)