Protecting our ocean one treaty at a time

“We learn in school about a handful of oceans around the globe, but they are really all part of one global ocean that covers more than 70% of the planet and regulates our climate and weather,” she says. “The ocean’s health is not just a matter of environmental concern—it's critical for life on Earth.”

The three-time alumna and Buffalo native has dedicated her career to safeguarding this precious resource.

Armed with the legal acumen and scientific expertise she gained at UB, Kim has been a regulator, policy maker and diplomat for the ocean. At the State Department, Kim leads U.S. foreign policy and global engagement on ocean, Arctic and Antarctic affairs, a role that requires a nuanced understanding of both the legal frameworks and scientific intricacies underpinning ocean and polar conservation, sustainable use and security.

“I often say I am bilingual in law and science,” Kim remarks. “Writing well and analyzing issues from all sides are key skills I use from my legal education. The ability to understand ecology and science are key skills from my PhD.” Kim doesn’t believe everyone needs a law degree and a PhD to be successful in environmental policy, but she is a strong advocate for training or experience in at least two of these three critical pillars: science, law and economics.

Kim’s journey from Buffalo to the global stage has been guided by a commitment to public service and a deep-rooted passion for the ocean—which began when she learned to scuba dive at UB as an undergraduate. After finishing her JD-PhD, Kim’s first job was at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., leading national programs to manage marine pollution. While there, Kim led U.S. delegations to meetings of a global treaty on ocean dumping management and was hooked on diplomacy.

Kim eventually moved to the State Department as a senior ocean policy advisor responsible for law of the sea and marine conservation policy. There she led U.S. delegations to numerous negotiations on ocean issues at the United Nations and other international forums. In 2022, she became the director of State’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, adding Arctic and Antarctic international policy and diplomacy to her portfolio.

Kim’s most recent success was leading the U.S. delegation negotiating a groundbreaking global treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of high seas biodiversity. The high seas are ocean waters beyond 200 nautical miles from shore and they cover about half the planet. This new High Seas Treaty will allow the world to set up marine-protected areas in the high seas, a critical step in achieving the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.

Beyond negotiations, Kim and her office have been instrumental in the annual Our Ocean conference. Started by former Secretary of State John Kerry in 2014, this global gathering of high-level government representatives and other stakeholders has catalyzed nearly $128 billion in commitments for protecting the ocean. Kim has received the State Department’s highest award for environmental diplomacy for her work on ocean conservation.

Kim keeps in touch with friends from all her UB degree schools. First and foremost, she’s been happily married to her PhD lab-mate, Kiho Kim, PhD ’96, for 27 years. Kiho recently became provost of Washington College on the eastern shore of Maryland. They have two sons—a coder and a composer—who have not followed in their footsteps, but “will hopefully be productive members of society,” Kim quips. Kim has also maintained connections with her undergraduate mentor Kipp Herreid, distinguished teaching professor emeritus; her PhD advisor Howie Lasker, professor emeritus; and close friends from law school and the undergraduate honors program.

Reflecting on her journey, Kim offers this advice to UB students: “Learn to be a great writer. Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Be persistent.” Kim believes everyone can find some way to make the world a better place. For her, it’s safeguarding the Earth’s blue heart so that her kids can grow old on a healthy, vibrant planet.