Seoyoon Woo

Dr. Seoyoon Woo received her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Michigan in December 2019, then worked as a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Larson’s lab until joining the SON faculty at the UNCW. Before her graduate studies, she worked as a med-surge nurse, a paralegal nurse, and a clinical research coordinate in South Korea. All the experiences built her scientific interests.

Education

B.S.N., Hallym University
Ph.D. in Nursing, University of Michigan
Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Michigan

Specialization in Teaching

Dr. Woo’s teaching philosophy centers on creating an environment that fosters inquiry and promotes self-efficacy, encouraging students to achieve meaningful accomplishments. She believes that learning is most effective when students are challenged to question their existing knowledge and are supported in an environment that values individual growth. To facilitate this, she employs active learning, collaborative strategies, and project-based learning. This approach ensures that students engage in activities that require them to ask questions, investigate, develop solutions, and connect their academic knowledge with clinical experiences and current literature. Dr. Woo’s teaching spans both undergraduate and graduate programs, incorporating courses that align with her scholarly interests, research expertise, and a strong foundation in nursing education. She has taught Gerontological Nursing and End of Life Care (NSG321), Health Policy (NSG398), Research in Nursing (NSG415), Research and Evidence-Based Practices for Nursing Educator (NSG511), Test and Rubric Construction (NSG584), Theoretical Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice (NSG685), and Methodological Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice (NSG686). She is currently teaching and coordinating Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice (NSG683).

Research Interests

Dr. Woo’s research focuses on understanding how psychosocial stress and distress interact with health-related behaviors in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is often stigmatized due to its strong association with smoking. This stigma can result in emotional distress, reduced social interactions, and negative effects on medication adherence and help-seeking behaviors. To better understand the impact of stigma on those living with COPD, Dr. Woo developed the COPD-Related Stigma Scale. This tool helps identify subtle yet significant differences in stigma experiences among individuals with COPD. Gaining this understanding allows for the development of more targeted and effective interventions. Her research has also expanded to include ageism, examining its intersectional impact and the role it may play in the health-related behaviors of individuals with COPD, particularly in relation to the social stigma surrounding the condition.

Professional Service

Dr. Woo’s service demonstrates leadership at both national and international levels, with a consistent record of service across all four levels. She has served as a guest reviewer for DNP students’ projects (2023-2025), a co-facilitator for the Junior Tenure Track Faculty Forum with a senior faculty, Dr. Barbara Carlson. She served as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force at the college level and an alternative member of the Institutional Review Board since 2023 and aim to become a permanent scientist on the board. At the national level, she has held several positions, including serving as a board member for the Global Korean Nursing Foundation (GKNF)-USA, secretary of the Global Health Committee, and vice chair of the Program Committee from 2022 to 2024. Since 2025, she has been the chair of the Program Committee. Dr. Woo has also acted as a reviewer for 16 different journals, averaging 16 manuscripts per year. Of these journals, eleven are interdisciplinary, focusing on cutting-edge research in areas such as acute care, informatics, gerontology, public health, and medicine. Since 2023, she has been a guest reviewer for GKNF-USA grant proposals and an abstract reviewer for the annual research meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.

Community Engagement

Dr. Woo is a member of the following professional societies.
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Southern Nursing Research Society
• Midwest Nursing Research Society
• American Thoracic Society
• Gerontological Society of America
• Psychometric Society
• Global Korean Nurses Association