People

Cen Jingwen,a confident and motivated accounting major from theClass of 2025, is truly a stage lover who has earned awards in recitation, singing and hosting.This year, her passion for business brings her to WKU for a new beginning.During high school, Cen was known for her outgoing personality and strong presence on stage. She frequently hosted major school events and participated in the Municipal Recitation Competition, where her team won first prize for their vivid and expressive performance.Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “The key is to truly immerse yourself in the work and convey emotions sincerely. With genuine feelings, both recitation and singing can deeply connect with the audience.”Outside the classroom, she actively engagesin community service. She has led reading sessions for left-behind children, participated in cultural heritage projects, and delivered Spring Festival greetings to veteran soldiers. She believes that volunteer work helps her develop empathy and social awareness beyond academics.At WKU, Cen continues to embraces new experiences. She joined the Student Unionof Youth League Comittee, where she contributes to student affairs and event organization.She also continues her love for music and serves as a lead singerof a student band, finding opportunities to collaborate with peers who share her passion for music. Reflecting on her growth, she said, “I’m now better at expressing myself more confidently and working better in a team.”To Cen, WKU provides an open and supportive environment to try new things and grow through experience. When she wants to build her skills, there are student organizations that provide a platform. When she wants to pursue her interests, there are like-minded peere to share the journey with.Shehas always maintained a clear plan, actively seizing every opportunity to make her college life both diverse and fulfilling.

The core philosophy of Kean Business School is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become impactful global citizens. They are committed to using their expertise to build a better future for businesses, government, and communities.Professor Hing Kai Chan has been listed for several consecutive years among the "World’s Top 2% Scientists", as well as named a "Highly Cited Chinese Researcher." He has made significant academic contributions, with over 250 research papers published and nine books (authored or edited) to his name. In recent years, he has led international, national, provincial, and municipal research projects, and has been granted several invention patents.As the new Campus Dean of the CBPM, how will he unlock the institution’s development potential and infuse innovation and momentum into the collaboration among industry, academia, and research? Recently, we had an interview with Dean Hing Kai Chan.Could you briefly introduce your educational background and academic research interests?My initial training was in electronic engineering. After working in the electronic manufacturing industry for a few years, I then moved to industrial management and industrial engineering. I also studied Economics and Management to broaden my horizons. My doctoral degree is about supply chain management, with a focus on flexibility and adaptability in supply chains.Currently, my primary research interests are digital transformation and operations, intelligent manufacturing, sustainable operations and supply chains.What brought you to Wenzhou-Kean University? What was the biggest attraction of WKU?WKU is a truly unique and transformative institution that represents the perfect fusion of Eastern and Western educational philosophies. It was an incredible opportunity for me to be part of it.The biggest attraction of WKU was the commitment to fostering innovation, critical thinking, and leadership among students. I was inspired by WKU's vision of preparing future global leaders with the skills they need to flourish in a dynamic world.Beyond academics, the vibrant campus life, dedicated faculty, and the strong sense of community here are unmatched, to enable students and educators develop and grow. It’s an honor to be part of such a unique institution that strives for excellence in both academic and personal development.What short-term and long-term development goals have you set for the CBPM?In the short term, my focus is on strengthening the already-very-good academic foundation of CBPM. This includes enhancing curriculum alignment with industry demands, fostering greater collaboration between faculty and students, and expanding experiential learning opportunities, such as internships and student consultancy projects, which could lead to valuable case studies. I also aim to build stronger partnerships with businesses and public organizations both locally and globally, ensuring our students are well-prepared for real-world challenges.Looking ahead, my vision for CBPM is to establish it as a leading institution for business education in the region and beyond. This involves cultivating a reputation for academic excellence and innovative research that addresses global challenges. We aim to produce graduates who are not only competent professionals but also ethical leaders. Building world-class facilities, advancing faculty development, and leveraging technology to stay at the forefront of educational innovation are integral to this vision, making CBPM a hub for collaboration, inspiration, and impact in the business sectors.What are your next steps to create an excellent teaching and research environment for both faculty and students?My next steps at WKU focus on fostering an environment for academic excellence, innovation, and collaboration. For both faculty and students, this means prioritizing resources and strategies that enhance teaching and research capabilities. Promoting interdisciplinary partnerships, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, and ensuring access to advanced tools and technologies that empower both educators and learners to excel are the essentials.On the teaching side, this involves aligning our curriculum with global industry trends while incorporating local perspectives to equip students with the skills and insights needed for success in a dynamic and interconnected world. Additionally, I want to embed experiential learning opportunities—such as internships, industry projects, and case competitions—into our programs, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.On the research side, I envision cultivating a culture of inquiry and innovation, encouraging faculty and students to explore cutting-edge topics that contribute to both academic advancement and societal impact. By emphasizing collaboration with business communities, governmental organizations, and global partners, CBPM can become a hub of transformative ideas and a catalyst for positive change.What motivates your strong perseverance and passion for scientific research? How do you stay aligned with cutting-edge industry trends and maintain innovation and forward-thinking in your research and patent applications?What motivates me in my scientific research journey is the excitement of discovery and the pursuit of solutions to real-world challenges. The opportunity to contribute to knowledge, improve lives, and make a lasting impact drives my perseverance. I also draw inspiration from collaboration—working alongside brilliant minds across disciplines fuels my passion and helps transform ideas into tangible innovations.To stay aligned with cutting-edge industry trends and maintain a forward-thinking approach, I prioritize continuous learning, actively engaging with the latest research, attending international conferences, and fostering partnerships with industry leaders. Innovation blossoms when research is not only informed by emerging developments but also anticipates the future needs of society and industry.In my view, the most valuable outcome of scientific research lies in its ability to create a positive and lasting impact on society. Research should not only advance theoretical knowledge but also provide practical solutions that address pressing challenges. For me, successfully translating research into invention patents is a way to bridge the gap between academic exploration and real-world application. These outcomes can drive innovation, support industry transformation, and improve quality of life, which is ultimately what makes scientific research so rewarding.Looking ahead, how do you plan to integrate your research expertise with the unique characteristics of Wenzhou-Kean University to bring innovation and momentum to WKU’s research development?I plan to integrate my research expertise with the unique characteristics of Wenzhou-Kean University by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging our global network, and embracing our multicultural educational philosophy. My goal is to establish a dynamic research ecosystem that empowers both faculty and students to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries and impactful solutions.This involves identifying key areas of focus that align with WKU’s strengths and strategic vision, such as digital transformation, sustainable business practices, and business innovations. By embedding research initiatives into our teaching, we can create a seamless integration of theory and practice, further enhancing WKU’s reputation as a hub for academic excellence and societal impact.Ultimately, I envision cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration that drives WKU’s research development forward.What potential do you see forCBPMin advancing industry-academia-research integration in the future?The College of Business and Public Management (CBPM) is uniquely positioned to lead the way in university-industry research collaboration. With a multidisciplinary approach and access to diverse global perspectives, CBPM has the potential to become a catalyst for innovation and collaboration. Building on my research experience, I envision creating more opportunities for partnerships with businesses, government organizations, and international institutions.These collaborations can foster applied research projects, consulting initiatives, and innovation labs where students and faculty work together to tackle complex challenges. By integrating cutting-edge research into our teaching and training programs, we can prepare students to navigate and shape the future of industries. Additionally, this knowledge-transfer approach can support enterprises in achieving their innovation goals while contributing to the development of forward-thinking public policies.Ultimately, CBPM can establish itself as a hub where academic excellence meets industry relevance, producing research that not only enriches scholarly understanding but also drives tangible progress in the world.Please deliver a message of encouragement to the students at CBPM.To our fellow students at the College of Business and Public Management, I hope your study is not limited to the classroom. Please go outside the classroom and study the real-world problem. I hope you can understand that studying is not just about academics. This is a place for you to explore your development, explore your passion and develop your career. I hope the College of Business and Public Management at WKU can provide you with a platform to achieve these objectives.

This year, four students from Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) receivednational scholarships. Two of them are Xuanxuan Tu from Product Design and Rui Kang,an English major.A Grounded DesignerTu XuanxuanMajor: Product DesignWhen Xuanxuan Tuwas considering her graduation project idea, she noticed that our country still reliesheavily on coal resources. Wanting to make a difference, she took onthe challenge of doing the project on remanufacturing coal ashes. Toachieve this goal, she stepped into the fields of materials science, economics, and electronic engineering, immersing herself in the libraryandembarkingon the journey of disciplinary study. She continuouslyread dozens of English articles in the fields of biology and chemistry andlearned the deploymentand matching techniques of different electronic components. Her efforts have createdasuccessful visual representation of the products designed. Moreover, to further prove that reprocessed coal ash is economically sustainable, she went on to investigate economic analysis papers.▲ The ShellHer exchange experience atKean University in the Fall Semester of 2023 has made her realize the differences behindthe concept of design between China and the U.S. In China there is a focus on the deep meaningbehind products while Americans concentrate on the practicality and commercial valueof products. In her exchange year, she collaborated with Benebone, an American pet toy manufacturing companyto co-design a self-righting toy for pets.Back in WKU, with the hope of aligningwith people’s actual needs, she designed Period Box, which helps women track their menstruation.Additionally, Xuanxuan Tu has participated in enriching extracurricular activities. Sheclaims that her outstanding grades and her experiences instudent organizations, internships, and contests have led her so far.▲ Pet toys designed in the United States▲Period BoxThe Excellent Educator Kang RuiMajor: EnglishRui Kang, an English major,has beenawardedanational scholarship in recognition of her academic excellence and dedicationthroughoutcollege.Over the past four years, she has been consistently working hard, achieved a high GPA, andbeen admitted into the Master’s Education program at University College London (UCL).▲ Internship in primary schoolIn addition to her hard work in academics, she actively took part in extracurricular activities,including the Youth League Committee, RA,andpeer tutoring. Looking back, she says the pandemic was the most challenging time of her college years. As an active party member, she took on the responsibility of collecting nucleic acid samplesfrom students at 6 a.m. daily. It was this experience that deepened Rui Kang’s understanding of the responsibilitythat comes with being a party member. Furthermore, inJune 2023, Rui Kang was honored with the title of 'ExcellentRA' for heroutstanding performancewhen fulfilling her duty as anRA.To Rui Kang, the most impressive course is EMSE3421, an internship course where she had to teach energetic primary school students with short attention spans. To overcome this challenge and keep them engaged, she integrated games into her teaching. An approach that improved students’ participation.So far, Rui Kang has not only helped students in WKU makeprogress in their studiesbuthasalso successfully completed three research papers as the first author.In the future, she hopes to work at an international educational institutionto assist students in steppingonto the global stage.