She Made It! Celebrating Dr. Ying’s PhD Achievement

Ying finally made it — she successfully defended her dissertation and officially became a PhD! 🎓✨

I was only able to attend the defense virtually via Zoom. While I truly wished I could have been there in person, I’m still grateful I was able to witness such a meaningful and proud moment in her journey.

It has been a long and unconventional journey. Ying first joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2020 as my very first PhD student in the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC; now the School of Fashion and Textiles). Over several years, she showed remarkable growth and published impactful research under my supervision.

After I moved to Hanyang University in 2022, Professor Chris Lo — my former colleague at ITC — kindly took over Ying’s supervision and welcomed her into the Business School at PolyU. Thanks to his warm support and generous mentorship, Ying was able to continue her PhD journey without disruption and flourish both personally and professionally.

Amid these transitions, Ying never lost her drive. She spent nine months as a visiting scholar at Hanyang University in South Korea, and three months at Cornell University in Ithaca, USA. Both opportunities were made possible through PolyU’s funding — which she actively and independently pursued.

Ying is someone who always stays positive, seeks out opportunities, and never hesitates to take the road less traveled. Her growth is no surprise — it’s the natural result of her mindset and determination. And I have no doubt she will continue to grow and thrive in whatever she chooses to pursue.

Congratulations, Dr. Ying!
Your journey is a powerful testament to resilience, curiosity, and unwavering commitment. I wish you all the best in your next chapter — and I sincerely hope you will remain not only a great scholar but also a dear friend and colleague for years to come. 🌿💫
I truly feel like the luckiest and happiest advisor to have met you on this journey.

Ying은 2020년 홍콩폴리텍대학교 나의 첫 박사과정 학생으로 입학해, 여러 해 동안 눈에 띄는 성장과 함께 의미 있는 연구 성과를 이뤄냈습니다. 2022년 내가 한양대학교로 옮긴 이후에는 Chris Lo 교수가 그녀의 지도교수를 맡아 따뜻한 지원과 멘토십을 제공해 주었고, 그 덕분에 Ying은 학문적으로도 개인적으로도 꾸준히 성장할 수 있었습니다. 전환의 시기에도 그녀는 주도적으로 연구 여정을 개척해 나갔으며, 한양대학교(9개월)와 미국 코넬대학교(3개월)에서 방문 연구를 수행하기도 했습니다. 비록 온라인이었지만, Ying의 학위 심사 자리를 함께할 수 있어 무척 뜻깊었습니다. 언제나 긍정적이고 두려움 없이 새로운 길을 선택해온 Ying의 성장은 당연한 결과이며, 앞으로도 그녀가 어떤 길을 걷든 더욱 크게 성장해 나갈 것을 확신합니다. 앞으로 펼쳐질 새로운 여정에 언제나 좋은 일만 가득하길, 그리고 앞으로도 오래도록 소중한 친구이자 동료로 함께하길 진심으로 바랍니다!!