"It would be crazy to go to any other institution for your [undergraduate education]," Kim said.
Kim said he believes that by serving as College president, he will be able to work with students to tackle difficult issues.
"Any impact I've had will be magnified many times over by what you will do," Kim said.
Dartmouth presidents have historically reached out to the community, he said, explaining his role as president will be to serve as students'"chief inspirer."
Kim said he plans to teach during his time as president, and that he has spoken with faculty members about "resurrecting" former College President John Sloan Dickey's "Great Issues" course. The course, to be taught during sophomore summer, would allow students to study global problems and seek solutions, he said.
Kim also praised the College's study abroad programs. He said he hopes to use his connections with leaders in developing countries to increase the number of programs available. Kim said he may be interested in pursuing a program in Rwanda, as he knows the country's president, Paul Kagame.
"My hope is that foreign studies programs are extended further so you can go to amazing places, like Rwanda, and work with government officials," he said.
The College's faculty is particularly strong, Kim said, as professors "engage directly with students" while also conducting research. These professors can have a significant impact on students, Kim said, recalling a time when a member of the College's Board of Trustees became tearful when telling Kim about his favorite physics professor.
Kim also highlighted the natural beauty of the Upper Valley region.
"We are in a spectacular setting that people from all over the world come to for vacation," Kim said.
One audience member asked Kim about his ties to Harvard University, which Kim referenced several times during his speech. Kim responded that "there is no comparison" between the two institutions, eliciting applause when he said that prospective students should "definitely go to Dartmouth."
Kim said he will live in the president's house on Webster Avenue, adding that he believes that "part of [his] commitment is to live with and among the students."
Renovations to the house on Webster Avenue will prevent the Kim family from moving in until the end of the calender year, College Provost Barry Scherr said in a previous interview. The renovations include the addition of handicap access and the installation of a new heating structure.
Kim will reside in a College-owned house on Rope Ferry Road until construction is complete, Scherr said.
Kim remarked that he hopes his sons are not too loud for the fraternities, which received laughs from the audience.
Leito Kim, a prospective student from South Kent, Conn., said that the president-elect's work in developing countries like Peru and Haiti is particularly inspirational. A former director of the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS division, Kim is leaving his position as chair of the department of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School.
"His overall humbleness reached out to me," he said.
Parker Kuivila, a prospective student from Cleveland, Ohio, said that Kim's enthusiasm "definitely" increased his interest in attending the College.
"He was really enthusiastic and he seemed to really connect to the students," Kuivila said. "And with all the stuff he's accomplished, I'd say he's a fantastic person to kind of represent Dartmouth."
Kuivila said he appreciated Kim's sense of humor and thought it made his speech more convincing.
"He's able to bring in the audience's attention," Kuivila said. "I don't think anyone there was bored or didn't want to be there. Everyone was focused on what he was saying, and they seemed to take in his message."
