WKU Graduate | ZHOU Qingqing: Direct Admission to Ph.D. ! The Star Researcher of the College of Liberal Arts at Wenzhou-Kean University

Zhou Qingqing, a WKUer from Hangzhou, has written her chapter on life through outstanding research achievements and well-rounded personal development over her four years at the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

Graduate of 2024: Zhou Qingqing
Major: Psychology
Graduate School: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Doctorate)
Origin: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

As the president of the Psi Chi Chapter at WKU, Zhou, in her undergraduate years, actively participated in various psychology-related research projects, winning her an admission ticket to the Educational Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), which makes her the first student from the CLA ever gaining direct admission to a Ph.D. program.

Zhou’s research journey has been one of continuous selfchallenge and the unlocking of her potential. Starting in her sophomore year, she delved into research, working alongside professors from the department of psychology such as Amrita Kaur, Qian Li, and Alexander English, exploring the mysteries of psychology. From teacher behavior and student motivation to college students’ social media behavior and identity in the workplace, each research project marked a significant step in her academic growth.

Zhou said: "Completing research tasks requires high self-learning ability. Throughout the exploration process, I discovered my strong interest and potential in data analysis.” In her participation in research projects, Professor English assigned her a research task on "machine learning.” As the project leader, Zhou had to grasp the research orientation, reasonably allocate tasks, learn data analysis methods independently, and complete the tasks with her team. “Completing a project is tedious and exhausting. Only by maintaining enthusiasm and passion for research can one persist to the end.” She added.

Apart from research, Zhou was also an active participant in campus activities. She took full advantage of WKU’s international platform and resources to develop her diverse talents comprehensively. As the president of the Psi Chi Chapter at WKU, she devoted herself to enhancing team cohesion and expanding the Psi Chi community. She worked with her peer students to initiate the Youth Leadership Project at WKU, imparting psychology knowledge and advancing her career in psychology.

WKU’s rich social practice resources provided Zhou with more opportunities to gain work experience. Actively engaging in internships at elementary schools and kindergartens, she applied her knowledge to practice, gaining a deep insight into the significance of educational psychology and laying a solid foundation for her future research orientation. Additionally, she actively participated in the WKU’s innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, honing her innovative thinking and practical abilities.

As the first student from the CLA to go straight to a PhD program, Zhou achieved her success by no means accidentally. Her extensive experience in research and practice, coupled with precise research orientation, successfully caught the attention of mentors at UIUC. During the application process, she showcased her strengths, highlighting her unique attributes to the mentors. Most importantly, her research orientation on "the impact of teacher behavior on students” aligned perfectly with that of the UIUC mentors. Zhou considers this a “rare fortune,” but it is also the reward for her relentless effort and dedication over the past four years.

Behind Zhou’s remarkable achievements lies her journey across mountains and seas, fueled by her passion for psychological research and every moment of unwavering effort over the years. Looking to the future, Zhou hopes to deepen her exploration in the field of educational psychology, make substantial contributions, and shine through her commitment to humanism.