Last updated on October 1, 2026
Pauline Kung, a 2025 graduate of the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, developed her leadership skills as a student recreation worker and through participation in multiple student organizations, including the Rutgers Japanese Student Association (JSA).
As of October 2026, Kung, of North Haledon, New Jersey, is working as an intern for One to World, coordinating Fulbright teachers coming to the greater New York City area.
From August 2025 to July 2026, she taught English to students in the fourth through sixth grades in Taipei, Taiwan. Kung, who majored in political science and criminal justice and minored in economics at Rutgers, plans to enroll in law school in the coming years.
In 2025, the Livingston Alumni Association of Rutgers University named Kung as that year’s winner of the Riki Jacobs Livingston Pride Award.
“For me, participating in sports was the first step towards acclimating myself to venturing far outside my comfort zone,” Kung wrote in her Pride Award application essay. “My connection to athletics permeated all aspects of my life, from an introverted high school freshman to now an aquatics recreation manager and student-athlete tutor. As a manager, I have lived out my passion for being at the center of health and well-being. … Since my early start on the leadership management team, I learned what it truly meant to employ professionalism, empathy, and patience in a capacity so that my fellow student employees could rely on me in times of need. …
“As an adventurous soul, I knew I would find my way to travel the world and see places instead of just reading about them,” she wrote. “My curiosities guided me to Kyoto, Japan, in the summer of 2023, when I participated in the Rutgers University and Ritsumeikan University exchange program. Upon learning the history of World War II from the Asia-Pacific perspective, I became more aware of the complexities of history and the community-oriented mindset of East Asia. …
“At JSA, we do not just host educational lectures; we also experience history firsthand. One powerful example is our field trip to Seabrook Farms in South Jersey, where the stories of Japanese-Americans, especially those affected by WWII internment camps, are brought to life. JSA fosters a strong sense of Japanese community and deeply emphasizes educating others about the intertwined histories of Japan and America. To be able to create a welcoming environment for students far from home is truly one of the most remarkable feats that JSA endeavors year after year.”
Kung also completed a semester abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, while at Rutgers. During her free time as an English teacher in Taiwan, she visited Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, played in a club volleyball league, and ran in road races.
“With my adventurous and outgoing personality, I know that I will live to regret much, as do most people,” she wrote. “However, I intend to live a life that I am proud to look back on in a career that continues to reward and challenge me daily. After all, what is knowledge worth if not shared?”