We asked several CAHNRS Ambassadors, excellent students who love WSU and their college, to name their favorite professors. And now we’re featuring those nominated educators in this weekly series.
Today we’re showcasing Ting Chi, associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design & Textiles (AMDT). Here are his answers to a few questions:
How did you pick this as a career?
The modern industrialization started with the textile and apparel industry. Since then, the textile and apparel industry has been playing a vital role in the global economy. In recent years, the focus of the US textile and apparel industry has shifted from manufacturing to product development, retailing, and supply chain management due to global sourcing. I chose the focus of my Ph.D. study on global sourcing and supply chain management for this industrial shift. Being a good educator and researcher has always been my career goal as I believe the quality of higher education has direct effect on the competitiveness of the US textile and apparel industry. Seeing that the students I teach are well prepared for the competitive industry is a great fulfillment for me.
What is your favorite thing about teaching college students?
Motivating students to learn and comprehend challenging contents like merchandising math, tariff rate determination, and global sourcing decision making has been my favorite thing about teaching college students.
Why do you love what you do?
Seeing that the students I teach are well prepared for such a competitive industry is very fulfilling. Also, I love doing research addressing the emerging issues facing the textile and apparel industry. Bringing the latest research findings to teaching makes student learning industry-relevant and state-of-the-art.
If you could provide any tips or advice for your students, or WSU students in general, what would they be?
A successful college career requires years of hard work, and you can’t expect to be a success without devotion and sacrifice.
Any other words of wisdom you’d like to pass along?
I am still missing my college life because I thought of college as an incubation period, where I developed my skill set and character. You have so many resources in college like knowledgeable and caring professors, like-minded peers, discretionary time, and professional development opportunities which you are less likely to have in a company. So use them wisely.