Sangmi Kim has been honored for her scholarship, leadership, and community engagement, receiving national and institutional awards, prestigious fellowships, and serving as student government president and doctoral ambassador at major universities. She was also awarded a research grant to lead a CBPR-based AI digital storytelling project addressing social isolation and suicide prevention.
CBPR-Based AI Digital Storytelling to Address Social Isolation and Prevent Suicide
Principal Investigator: Graduate Student | 2024 | $1,000
Advisor: Dr. Robert Lucio
Community Engagement Academy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
TSHCSW Mid East Council Scholarship Award (Sep 2025)
As a Scholarship Awardee. Recognized for academic excellence and contributions to the field of health care social work. Honored at the Annual Ethics Conference 2025, including professional development workshops and 5 Social Work Ethics Contact Hours.
Tennessee Society of Health Care Social Workers (TSHCSW), Mid East Council
Certificate of Excellence in Scholarship (Spring 2025)
Awarded as First Author for outstanding regional presentation:
AI Integration & Ethical Challenges in Social Work Practice
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Community Engagement Academy, Fall 2024 Cohort (Fall 2024)
Selected as Graduate Student Principal Investigator (with Dr. Robert Lucio, Faculty Advisor).
Focus: Interdisciplinary professional development, community-based research, and partnership building
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Best Poster Award, SMART AI Workshop (May 2024)
Graduate Student Poster Contest Winner as First Author
Title: Predicting Adolescent Suicidal Ideation: The Role of Physical Activity Evaluated through Machine Learning Models
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
"Shining Myself, Shining My Neighborhood" Resilience Program Contest (August 2010)
As Team Leader, Winning Project:
The Building Resilience Program for Children in Abandoned Mines
Gangwon Land Casino & Seoul National University
CSWE Doctoral Student Policy Fellowship (2025–2027)
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Selected as a 2025–2027 Doctoral Student Policy Fellow, recognizing excellence in social work policy research and evidence-based advocacy.
Tier One Graduate Fellow, Carnegie Elective Classifications (2025–2026)
American Council on Education (ACE)
Focused on the 2026 Community Engagement Classification process, conducting reviewer training, interdisciplinary assessment, and engagement research. (Participation deferred to 2029 cycle per institutional policy.)
Fellowship for Academic Excellence (August 2023 ~ Present)
College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Alumni Association Fellowship (September 2009 – July 2010)
Ewha Womans University
Fellowship for Academic Excellence in Japanese Language and Literature (March 2003 – August 2006)
Sungshin Women's University
Fellowship for Academic Excellence as Exchange Student (April 2005 – March 2006)
Tsukuba Gakuin University & Sungshin Women’s University
PhD Ambassador – Doctoral Student Representative (Aug 2025 – May 2026)
College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Graduate Student Council President, PhD Program (June 2023 – May 2024)
College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Graduate Student Council President, MSW Program (March 2009 – February 2010)
Ewha Womans University