Welcome

I am Dongkyu Kim, Associate Professor and Director of the School of Political Science, Public Affairs, Legal and Security Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. I also serve as Director of UTRGV’s Center for Survey Research and Policy Analysis.

My work brings together international and comparative political economy, public opinion, and political methodology. I study how political conflict, inequality, and governance institutions influence economic investment, political participation, public trust, and community resilience. My research has examined foreign direct investment, interstate and intrastate conflict, social protest, economic inequality, environmental governance, and public attitudes in the U.S.–Mexico border region.

My scholarship has appeared in journals including the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Global Environmental Change, Political Studies, and the International Political Science Review. Across these projects, I seek to connect theoretically informed research with important real-world political, economic, and social challenges.

At UTRGV, I am also committed to building institutions that expand opportunities for students, faculty, and community partners. Through the School and the Center for Survey Research and Policy Analysis, I support interdisciplinary education, experiential learning, survey research, program evaluation, policy analysis, and community-engaged scholarship.

Located in the Rio Grande Valley, my work is shaped by one of the most dynamic and consequential regions in the United States. I am particularly interested in developing reliable data and actionable knowledge that can help communities, public institutions, and policymakers better understand the region’s needs, perspectives, and opportunities.

This website provides information about my research, publications, teaching, administrative leadership, and community-engaged projects.

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