Ready to make AKEEP shine! Introducing Alan

안녕하세요! Hello to the A-KEEP family! My name is Alan Kouns, and I’ve just joined the team as the new Community Relations Coordinator. I’m excited to get started with the work of helping this wonderful multicultural community here in Alabama form meaningful connections through education and workforce opportunities as the Korean population continues to grow and thrive.  

I am a recent graduate from the Jones School of Law right here in Montgomery. I moved to Alabama almost a decade ago and spent some time working in Public Relations amongst the manufacturing industry in the area. I spend a lot of time taking advantage of some of the beautiful parks and hiking trails scattered throughout Alabama. My love for the state of Alabama comes from years of living and working here in what I consider to be the true gem of the American South.  

My passion for cultural interconnectivity comes from being raised as a “military brat” and being dragged all over the world as a child. My love for Korean language and culture stems from my years teaching across South Korea, in Seoul, Anyang, Cheonan and the beautiful Geoje Island. It’s been exciting to see Alabama grow thanks in no small part to the burgeoning development of foreign business into our economy. When my father first moved here back in the early 2000s, I never would have anticipated seeing so many exciting new restaurants and cultural opportunities (like the ones offered here at A-KEEP).  I know from firsthand experience that Alabamans and Koreans have a lot to benefit from working together, and I am truly thrilled to be a part of that! 

By Alan Kouns