Jihae Moon (she/her) is the Associate Director of Programs for the Center for Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence & Physics (LEAP), where she oversees the center’s education and learning development programs. Jihae previously worked in the Columbia College Dean’s Office, where she was the Associate Director of Events & Programs for CC/SEAS undergraduate students; and in the Office of Student Affairs at Columbia Business School as the Program Coordinator. She is a student in the Higher and Postsecondary Education Ed.M program at Teachers College, where she also received her MA. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a BA in communications with minors in sociology and entrepreneurship & social enterprise. The school motto, Pro Humanitate, or "for humanity," sparked her passion for philanthropy and social justice in education.
Jihae dedicates her extra time to nonprofit organizations such as SuitUp Inc., an organization that strives to ensure that all students have the access and awareness to pursue the college and career of their choosing through corporate partnerships. She is also a founding member of the Community of Volunteer Educators, a volunteer-run public service organization dedicated to providing free tutoring services and educational enrichment experiences to communities in NYC most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She spends her free time cuddling with her mini goldendoodle, Ollie; and going to F45 workouts with her husband.
Summary of Achievements
Since joining the LEAP Science and Technology Center in April 2022, Associate Director of Programs Jihae Moon has been instrumental in building and implementing LEAP’s education programs for graduate and undergraduate students, as well as training for K-12 NYC public school teachers. She also facilitates LEAP’s partnership with NCAR (National Center on Atmospheric Research)’s SOARS (Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research and Science) program.
Jihae also implements Columbia courses led by LEAP faculty members. She has successfully supported six LEAP courses and a certificate program, and facilitated the growth of one of these courses by three times its size the prior year.
She has closely collaborated with LEAP’s Director of Education and a range of LEAP faculty and mentors to run the Center’s annual REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program, Momentum Fellowship, the annual Lab-to-School program for NYC public school teachers, and winter and summer climate data science bootcamps.
Among her achievements was running a highly successful winter bootcamp in January 2024 that drew more than 30 students, scientists, and industry professionals from the private and public sectors, from fields as diverse as the New York State Legislature to NASA, prompting her nomination for a Spot Award.
Jihae’s dedication to broadening participation in the new field of climate data science; responsiveness to students, mentors, and faculty; collegiality with her LEAP colleagues and partners; and commitment to providing impactful and enriching programs for all participants exemplify outstanding performance in the Columbia Engineering community.
