Biography
Bryce Seockhwan Hwang arrived on Yale's campus some 20 years ago, dreading the austere formality he had seen in movies and novels. What he found instead was a community that took its traditions seriously while remaining genuinely, disarmingly open. That combination informed how he later navigated his career as a diplomat, where earning genuine trust and forming connections is paramount, as is knowing how to innovate without losing sight of human elements. It has also shaped how he gives back to Yale.
Starting with a gardening project in Korea soon after graduation, Hwang’s Yale alumni engagement has taken him across multiple roles in regional clubs, the Yale Day of Service, and alumni interviewing and mentoring. His signature contribution to date has been Yale.NYC’s “Lunch for Two” program, inspired by a program at the Yale Club of Hong Kong, Lunch for Two now counts nearly 500 participants across seven class decades, every Yale school, and even former faculty and visiting scholars. What began as a simple matching program has grown into a vibrant community with six thematic subgroups that “helps make New York feel a little smaller for Yalies.”
What Hwang has learned through his YAA service is that sustainable alumni engagement is built from the bottom up and driven by ownership, genuine connection, and the belief that everyone has something to contribute. He is honored to bring that conviction and approach to the Board of Governors.
