Ching Mey See
Alumni Citizenship Award
Ph.D. Education, 1996
Helping others in need comes naturally to Ching Mey See, an internationally renowned scholar and educator who focuses on counseling, psychology, and special education.
When the deadly tsunami of December 2005 hit Penang, Malaysia, where she lives, Ching Mey was part of the first groups of counselors and psychologists who organized intervention strategies to help the survivors. She also led counselors who went to the various sites to provide posttraumatic stress counseling for more than a year following the disaster.
She also dedicates her time and resources as volunteer principal of the Lions Resource and Education for Autistic Children Centre in Penang, where she helps nearly 60 children and their families. The Centre also hosts training sessions for medical undergraduates from the Penang Medical College, a private institution affiliated with a consortium of Irish medical faculties, special education teachers, and visitors from Asian countries.
“I come from a single-mother family and truly appreciated the help given by friends and strangers that enabled me to realize my potentials,” See says. “Along the way, I myself recognized that I can give a helping hand in return to make a difference, however slight, in people’s lives.”
See generously lends her expertise to various agencies without remuneration. She served as chair of the University St. John Ambulance Corps, the Red Crescent Society (the equivalent of the Red Cross), and the scouting troops for four years.
“The quality of education Ching Mey received from The Ohio State University has enhanced her professional achievement,” wrote Susan Ward, mentor teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in California. “She has contributed significantly to the education of her students at universities, and to the service of humanity in her community, country, and internationally. She truly personified the excellence of The Ohio State University and brought distinction to herself through her outstanding achievements, leadership, and services.”
Within 10 years of earning her Ph.D. from Ohio State, Ching Mey was promoted to full professorship at the School of Educational Studies, University Science Malaysia. During the course of her career, she has published four books, including two on autism, and has written nearly 100 national and 50 international papers. She has been invited to many Asian countries to present her papers, conduct workshops, and share her expertise in the field of counseling and special education.
For the past six years, Ching Mey served as a member of the National Board of Counselors in Malaysia, under the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development. She is the founding president of the Penang Association of Counseling and Psychology, which strives to be the umbrella for all counselors and psychologists across the state. She serves on the board of the Association of Psychological and Educational Counselors of Asia-Pacific and recently was appointed to the board of the National Board of Certified Counselors International.
Ching Mey offers these words of encouragement for today’s college students: “One should stay focused on one’s goals and ambition in life. There are unending opportunities in our journey of education. Seize every moment to learn something new for one’s personal growth.”
