The Honors College is thrilled to welcome Professor Hugh Schuckman as a new member of our faculty at the Utah Asia Campus (UAC)!
Schuckman brings an impressive global background to Honors, having worked and taught across North America, Asia, and the Middle East. His career has been fueled by a deep passion for learning about other cultures and exploring the world—a passion he now shares with his students. Before joining the University of Utah, he taught at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and at the Korea Development Institute of Public Policy and Management in Seoul.
One of his core lessons for students is to embrace the culture around them:
“My relationships with colleagues from Japan, Korea, and Saudi Arabia helped me enter the culture in a much deeper way, and more importantly, brought so much joy to my life while living abroad,” Schuckman says. “Whether joining a club or volunteering, try to put yourself in situations that help give you a reason to form deep friendships.”
He also encourages students to learn the local language, a skill he says is invaluable for connecting with people and communities in meaningful ways.
At the UAC, Schuckman teaches courses in Religious Studies, Human Rights, and Global Studies, giving students a rich, interdisciplinary approach that bridges concepts and disciplines. This kind of collaboration, he notes, is rare in higher education and inspired his most recent book, Principles of Zen Training for Educational Settings: Pedagogical Insights, the Kwan Um School of Zen, and Transnational Korean Buddhism (Routledge, 2024). The book explores how Zen principles can shape education, especially in global and comparative contexts, with the goal of helping scholars and students understand how Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhism can enrich teaching and teacher training.
Why study abroad at the Utah Asia Campus?
Many students consider studying abroad but worry about travel inexperience, cultural gaps, or whether credits will transfer. The Utah Asia Campus (UAC) removes those barriers—making an international experience accessible, enriching, and fully integrated with your University of Utah degree.
Schuckman points to three major benefits:
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Global citizenship: “Students will learn an incredible amount by experiencing life here in Korea, which builds a stronger foundation for becoming a global citizen.”
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Career advantage: Employers value graduates with cultural sensitivity and an international perspective.
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Stand-out experience: UAC alumni have unique stories and skills that make them memorable in job interviews.
With credit hours fully transferable between UAC and the Salt Lake City campus, students can study abroad without delaying graduation. Beyond academics, Korea offers unforgettable cultural opportunities—from magnificent temples and world-class museums to hiking trails and vibrant nightlife.
“Students tend to enjoy their time at UAC more when they take every weekend trip and experience possible… These are core memories for our study abroad students,” says Schuckman.
If you’re curious about global studies or want to broaden your horizons, consider enrolling in one of Professor Hugh Schuckman’s courses at the Utah Asia Campus—and make your own core memories abroad!
Aspen Delis | Journalism Intern, University of Utah Honors College