Fowler Cybersecurity and AI Experts Surprising Background Prepares Him for Life in Academia

Bongsik Shin is a noted expert in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) who serves as chair of the management information systems (MIS) department at the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. However, it may come as a surprise to know that his first foray into academia had nothing at all to do with technology. 

“I had an uncle that taught English language and literature at Dongguk University and he was a great role model for me,” said Shin, a native of Seoul, South Korea. “It was his influence that persuaded me to become a college professor.” Following his uncle’s lead, Shin earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Songang University, a Jesuit University based in Seoul. 

His student experience at Songang drove his desire to study and teach in the United States. “All the Catholic priests at the university had Ph.D.s and those teaching English had earned their degrees in the U.S.,” said Shin. 

However, unlike the priests/professors at Songang, Shin felt that he was more suited for a career in engineering or the sciences than one in language or literature. While still pursuing his goal of becoming a U.S. college professor, he adjusted his expectations and earned a master’s degree in statistics at the Zicklin School of Business at Bernard Baruch College in New York City. “I felt that statistics would be an essential part of becoming a researcher,” said Shin. “By studying statistics, I was preparing for my Ph.D.” 

Bongsik Shin, Ph.D.

MIS Department Chair
Management Information Systems Department

After earning his Ph.D. in MIS at the University of Arizona and spending two cold winters as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Shin took a position at SDSU as an assistant MIS professor in 1999 because he said he and his wife were in search of sunshine. 

At SDSU, Shin has found his niche as a top academic researcher. Initially, his research focused on e-business and telecommuting, which eventually sparked his current interest in cybersecurity and AI. His research has been consistently published in the top academic MIS journals, including MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research. His research on all topics have also been cited consistently by other scientists. 

Though Shin has had numerous awards and honors during his long career at SDSU (including the prestigious Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to the University in 2019), he is most proud of his Teaching Excellence Award presented to him by fellow members of the Fowler College of Business in 2017. 

But to Shin, the most important aspect of his work is his interaction with his students, who are frequently involved with his research activities. “Some of my favorite life experiences involve mentoring my undergraduate and graduate students,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoy giving them real-world experiences and transformational learning and research skills that help to advance grant-funded research projects.” 

Shin also has some advice for his students: “Don’t overestimate what you know when you come to class — that often leads to disappointment,” he said. “Be open-minded and humble about your own capability and you might be surprised about what you could learn.”