NaYoung is an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at the University of New Hampshire. Her research focuses on educational inequality and policies aimed at improving the abilities and prospects of children from underprivileged backgrounds. She has conducted research on topics such as school discipline, growth mindset, teacher diversity, and student-teacher relationships.

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Before pursuing her academic career, NaYoung worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in South Korea, where she witnessed the significant impact of socioeconomic background on children's English language achievement and their overall educational prospects. Her experience teaching English to adult professionals further highlighted the importance of early language education in shaping future employment opportunities in Korea, where English proficiency is highly valued. Additionally, her volunteer work as a teacher in Korean orphanages deepened her interest in the role of education in social stratification.