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ALUMNI AND UIC COMMUNITY
UIC Welcomes New Faculty
In the 2020 Academic Year, Underwood International College welcomed Dr. McCoy and Dr. Quartermain to our community. And starting this 2021 Spring semester, we are joined by Dr. Bailey, Dr. Saunders Jr., and Dr. Zhang. Please check out these short interviews below to learn a little more about our professors.
Professor Casey McCoy (Full faculty profile)
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Casey McCoy, and I am an assistant professor of philosophy at Underwood International College. I studied for my PhD in Philosophy at the University of California San Diego, writing a dissertation on the philosophy of cosmology. Before coming to Yonsei, I had research/teaching positions at the University of Edinburgh and Stockholm University, where I wrote and taught on the philosophy of science and the foundations of physics.
Which UIC courses will you be teaching during the 2021-1 semester? This semester I will be teaching three sections of Critical Reasoning.
What is something you have enjoyed about the UIC community so far?
What I have enjoyed most about the UIC community so far is the students. I appreciate their kindness and dedication! We have had many great conversations during our weekly live chats in Critical Reasoning. They are always a highlight of my week! I have also enjoyed the weekly reading group I have been organizing with CC colleagues, where we have been reading classic texts in the East Asian and Indian traditions.
What is something you are looking forward to in 2021?
Although I am pleased with how my course has worked as an online-only course, I do look forward to the time when we will be able to hold face-to-face classes again. I am also looking forward to teaching a UIC seminar in the future, so that I can introduce students to some exciting topics in philosophy!
Professor Thomas Quartermain (Full faculty profile)
Please introduce yourself. 
My name is Thomas Quartermain and I was an undergraduate at Yonsei for one year from 2005 to 2006. I was really impressed by my friends, their families’ hospitality and by the culture and history of Korea. I decided to further my studies and I focused on the Japanese and Manchu Invasions which took place between 1592 and 1637. My research focus is socio-political identity in East Asia over the last 400 years, and I completed my PhD at Oxford University before working at Georgia Tech.
Which UIC courses will you be teaching during the 2021-1 semester?
I’m teaching four classes this semester with three specific courses. I will be teaching two courses on Pre-20th Century Korean History, one course on China and Modernity from the 17th to 21st Centuries and a Special Topics Course on China focusing on ethnicity and socio-political identity.
What is something you have enjoyed about the UIC community so far?
I joined in March of 2020, so I came just at the moment when online classes and meetings were becoming normalized. The faculty and the students were all incredibly enthusiastic and took – what could have been a disadvantage – as an opportunity to frequently contact and discuss with me the working of the university and their ideas. The students have been wonderful, and their positive energy has been the key for the classes.
What is something you are looking forward to in 2021?
I’m looking forward to seeing the new students arrive and for having them turn 2021 into their own annus mirabilis.
Professor Jon A. Bailey (Full faculty profile)
Please introduce yourself.
I was born on the East Coast of the United States but grew up and attended university in the Midwest. When possible I enjoy reading and discussing history, philosophy, science, religion, and politics. Swimming and hiking are fun, too. Alas, these days, time to indulge is lacking.
Which UIC courses will you be teaching during the 2021-1 semester?
I will be teaching an introductory survey of classical mechanics and thermal physics (General Physics and Laboratory 1), an introduction to differential and integral calculus (Calculus and Vector Analysis 1), an advanced treatment of classical mechanics, and a survey of advanced mathematical methods.
What part of joining the UIC community is most exciting to you?
The UIC community is full of potential, very open and positive--"vibrant" comes to mind. The lockdowns and online-only classes have been a damper in some ways, but I am confident that together we can creatively overcome the challenges of the pandemic.
What is something you are looking forward to in 2021?
I look forward to interacting as much as possible with my students, colleagues, and other members of the community. Listening more and talking less is one of my intentions. You can remind me if--or when--I forget!
Professor Frank Saunders Jr. (Full faculty profile)
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Frank Saunders Jr. I was born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey, USA, and received my undergraduate degree from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (currently Stockton University) where I received a BA in philosophy and religion. I then moved to Hong Kong in 2013 to pursue an MPhil and then a PhD in Chinese philosophy at the University of Hong Kong, which I completed in 2019.
Which UIC courses will you be teaching during the 2021-1 semester?
In my first semester at UIC, I will be teaching UIC2101 Critical Reasoning and UIC1901 World Philosophy, and I’m very excited about both courses. Critical Reasoning will give students the skills they need to reason clearly in the modern world using some of the most recent developments from multiple disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, cognitive science, and decision theory. The course on World Philosophy will focus on introducing students to the philosophical methods and interests of the early Chinese tradition.
What part of joining the UIC community is most exciting to you?
The most exciting part of joining the UIC community to me is the interdisciplinary nature of UIC’s programs. I have already met some wonderful colleagues from beyond my discipline and I am very excited to meet even more in the future from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds.
What is something you are looking forward to in 2021?
What I am most looking forward to in 2021 is exploring the landscapes and wildlife of Korea. One of my passions is wildlife photography, which I have done in Hong Kong for the past few years. With so many ecosystems to explore in Korea, I’m very excited to try my luck and find some interesting birds to photograph and share.
Professor Huasha Zhang (Full faculty profile)
Please introduce yourself. I’m a historian of modern East Asian peoples, places, and communities. I’m also a cat person, a food enthusiast, and a K-Drama maniac.
Which UIC courses will you be teaching during the 2021-1 semester?
I’ll teach two World History courses, namely China: from Empire to Behemoth (UIC1551) and Making History in Twentieth-Century World (UIC1501).
What part of joining the UIC community is most exciting to you?
For over a century, numerous Asian students and intellectuals sailed across oceans in pursuit of knowledge and enlightenment in the Western Hemisphere. Having spent many, many exhausting hours onboard Trans-Pacific flights in the past decade myself, I feel prideful that we now have a locally grown, global-minded, and flourishing liberal arts college in the heartland of Northeast Asia. I’m excited at the opportunity to join my excellent students and colleagues for the adventure ahead, and I look forward to participating in and contributing to UIC’s educational innovations.
What is something you are looking forward to in 2021?
The world getting back to normal again! I’m confident that 2021 will be the year that we once again explore new territories, build new friendships, and celebrate life with our loved ones. I also look forward to welcoming my students back to campus in the fall semester—I miss class trips and movie nights as much as they do!
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