Where is your hometown?
I am from Yinchuan, Ningxia Province, China. Ningxia is a province where a lot of Hui (Muslim) minorities live. Yinchuan is the capital city of the province. Ningxia is famous for its Goji berries as well as the amazing scenery where you’ll see the Yellow River flows across desert area.
Where did you obtain your bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and what were your major(s)?
I got my BA in English (international business) from Tianjin Foreign Language University; MA in Communication (Integrate Marketing Communication) from Peking University; and MEd in Counseling from Temple University in Philadelphia P.A.
What first interested you in counseling psychology?
Counseling psychology emphasizes the wholeness of people: who we are is not overridden by our mental health issues.
Why did you choose Ball State?
The program is designed to meet different developmental needs of students from diverse backgrounds. Most importantly, I LOVE our people—our faculty members and our cohorts. I feel so encouraged and supported to meet challenges and grow the way I need to.
What do you think of your experience at Ball State as a Doctoral student so far?
Honestly, it’s tough being a doctoral student with overwhelming challenges from both professional and personal development. However, though with pain, I have been enjoying such a growth, when I know I am not alone in sailing through the uncertainty and ambiguity. I really appreciate the openness, sharing and caring from our program and people!
What are your research interests?
Practice adaptability of international changing agents who received their counseling education in the United States, cultural and social factors that are associated with the help-seeking attitude of Asian populations to psychotherapy, and the multicultural supervision model for international trainees.
What are your future plans and career goals?
My ambitious plan is to seek for a position in academia either in China or in the United States, where it can allow me to 1) support the growth of future generations of Counseling Psychology; 2) conduct research that would have implications to social justice advocacy from an international lens; 3) keep growing as a multicultural scientist-practitioner.
What are a few of your favorite hobbies?
- Workouts: a way to focus my mind and body
- Traveling: cultural observation and immersion
- Karaoke with friends: enjoy company and “air our” waste from chest
