![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229123200\/3-1024x576.jpg\")
\u201cMy professor introduced the 3+X program to me when I was an undergraduate student in China,\u201d Ding says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students in the 3+X program complete the last semester of their home university\u2019s undergraduate degree at NC State. During this semester students in the program are enrolled in graduate level courses. They also take GTI 401: U.S. Culture and Education Colloquium, which connects them with other international students, develops student success skills and offers an overview of U.S. culture and higher education. After they complete this semester, students transition into their master\u2019s program, which can be completed in an additional year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAt NC State, Ding found a community of students, staff and faculty whose support and encouragement led her not only through her master\u2019s program, but also to her decision to remain at the Wilson College and pursue her Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229123141\/7-1024x576.jpg\")
Professor Lisa Chapman threw a party for Yi Ding before she returned to China.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122638\/6-1024x576.jpg\")
Ding and other Office of International Services orientation leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\nDing\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122740\/2-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Every semester students travel from across the country, and the world, to study at the Wilson College of Textiles. Thirteen years ago Yi Ding, an associate professor in the department of textile design and industrial economics at Donghua University in China, was one of those students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love textiles,\u201d Ding says. \u201cAnd it was always my dream to study abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was this dream that brought Ding \u2014 who earned both an M.S. in Textile Chemistry<\/a> and a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science<\/a> from the Wilson College of Textiles \u2014 12,000 miles from Shanghai to Raleigh as a part of the 3+X program<\/a>, a cooperative program between NC State and 14 universities across China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding (center) with her advisors Professor Lisa Chapman and Professor Emeritus Harold Freeman at her commencement ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cMy professor introduced the 3+X program to me when I was an undergraduate student in China,\u201d Ding says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students in the 3+X program complete the last semester of their home university\u2019s undergraduate degree at NC State. During this semester students in the program are enrolled in graduate level courses. They also take GTI 401: U.S. Culture and Education Colloquium, which connects them with other international students, develops student success skills and offers an overview of U.S. culture and higher education. After they complete this semester, students transition into their master\u2019s program, which can be completed in an additional year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAt NC State, Ding found a community of students, staff and faculty whose support and encouragement led her not only through her master\u2019s program, but also to her decision to remain at the Wilson College and pursue her Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Lisa Chapman threw a party for Yi Ding before she returned to China.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding and other Office of International Services orientation leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ding\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wilson College of Textiles alumna Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":58288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Mary Giuffrida","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":490,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,490,479],"tags":[487,1143,2328,1408,1055,1382],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-58286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-our-people","category-tecs","tag-alumni","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-graduate-programs","tag-m-s-textile-chemistry","tag-ph-d-fiber-and-polymer-science","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":490,"name":"Our People","slug":"our-people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":686,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-29T18:21:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-29T20:01:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122549\/1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\",\"name\":\"Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122549\/1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-29T18:21:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-29T20:01:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"description\":\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. 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\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\nDing\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Every semester students travel from across the country, and the world, to study at the Wilson College of Textiles. Thirteen years ago Yi Ding, an associate professor in the department of textile design and industrial economics at Donghua University in China, was one of those students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love textiles,\u201d Ding says. \u201cAnd it was always my dream to study abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was this dream that brought Ding \u2014 who earned both an M.S. in Textile Chemistry<\/a> and a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science<\/a> from the Wilson College of Textiles \u2014 12,000 miles from Shanghai to Raleigh as a part of the 3+X program<\/a>, a cooperative program between NC State and 14 universities across China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding (center) with her advisors Professor Lisa Chapman and Professor Emeritus Harold Freeman at her commencement ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cMy professor introduced the 3+X program to me when I was an undergraduate student in China,\u201d Ding says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students in the 3+X program complete the last semester of their home university\u2019s undergraduate degree at NC State. During this semester students in the program are enrolled in graduate level courses. They also take GTI 401: U.S. Culture and Education Colloquium, which connects them with other international students, develops student success skills and offers an overview of U.S. culture and higher education. After they complete this semester, students transition into their master\u2019s program, which can be completed in an additional year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAt NC State, Ding found a community of students, staff and faculty whose support and encouragement led her not only through her master\u2019s program, but also to her decision to remain at the Wilson College and pursue her Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Lisa Chapman threw a party for Yi Ding before she returned to China.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding and other Office of International Services orientation leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ding\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wilson College of Textiles alumna Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":58288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Mary Giuffrida","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":490,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,490,479],"tags":[487,1143,2328,1408,1055,1382],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-58286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-our-people","category-tecs","tag-alumni","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-graduate-programs","tag-m-s-textile-chemistry","tag-ph-d-fiber-and-polymer-science","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":490,"name":"Our People","slug":"our-people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":686,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-02-29T18:21:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-29T20:01:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122549\/1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"844\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Wilson College Communications\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\",\"name\":\"Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/tex-cloud-cdn.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/textiles-ncsu\/20240229122549\/1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-29T18:21:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-29T20:01:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/#\/schema\/person\/10505fa89d5a697382b472f4eb881742\"},\"description\":\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. 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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n
Every semester students travel from across the country, and the world, to study at the Wilson College of Textiles. Thirteen years ago Yi Ding, an associate professor in the department of textile design and industrial economics at Donghua University in China, was one of those students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love textiles,\u201d Ding says. \u201cAnd it was always my dream to study abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was this dream that brought Ding \u2014 who earned both an M.S. in Textile Chemistry<\/a> and a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science<\/a> from the Wilson College of Textiles \u2014 12,000 miles from Shanghai to Raleigh as a part of the 3+X program<\/a>, a cooperative program between NC State and 14 universities across China. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy professor introduced the 3+X program to me when I was an undergraduate student in China,\u201d Ding says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students in the 3+X program complete the last semester of their home university\u2019s undergraduate degree at NC State. During this semester students in the program are enrolled in graduate level courses. They also take GTI 401: U.S. Culture and Education Colloquium, which connects them with other international students, develops student success skills and offers an overview of U.S. culture and higher education. After they complete this semester, students transition into their master\u2019s program, which can be completed in an additional year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\nAt NC State, Ding found a community of students, staff and faculty whose support and encouragement led her not only through her master\u2019s program, but also to her decision to remain at the Wilson College and pursue her Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Lisa Chapman threw a party for Yi Ding before she returned to China.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding and other Office of International Services orientation leaders.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ding\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wilson College of Textiles alumna Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":58288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Mary Giuffrida","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":490,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,490,479],"tags":[487,1143,2328,1408,1055,1382],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-58286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-our-people","category-tecs","tag-alumni","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-graduate-programs","tag-m-s-textile-chemistry","tag-ph-d-fiber-and-polymer-science","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":490,"name":"Our People","slug":"our-people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":686,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"
Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/textiles-alumna-built-community-real-world-skills-in-3x-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Textiles Alumna Built Community, Real-World Skills in 3+X Program - Wilson College of Textiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. 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\u201cThe college is quite welcoming,\u201d Ding says. \u201cMy supervisors are super nice people. We often had group lunches and dinners. They kept up with our lives a lot. We also celebrated birthdays together. My labmates were from many countries and we became lifelong friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ding became involved with the Office of International Services<\/a>, serving as an orientation leader for other international students and helping them adjust to a new country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gaining real-world experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ding\u2019s time at the college helped her grow more than just a community; it also helped her build transferable skills and experiences she was able to carry with her as she progressed in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During her Ph.D. Ding had the chance to work with Walmart through their U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, an opportunity she says pushed her to deepen her knowledge of various aspects of textiles, as well as develop completely new skills. Through the fund \u2014 which focuses on developing cost-effective and efficient domestic manufacturing \u2014 Ding worked on digital printing for outdoor textiles. She collaborated with professionals from across the industry, from startups innovating the digital printing process, to established leaders in traditional printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was not only lab work, it required me to understand textile materials, chemistry, computer science and textile design,\u201d Ding explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She continued to challenge herself throughout her Ph.D., taking advantage of opportunities to visit different companies within the textile industry and to assist labs at the college with tackling real-world problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile that work was not always 100% related to my dissertation, it gave me the opportunity to really make contributions to the textile industry,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am so proud of this experience, and I am still doing research in this area in China.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After receiving her Ph.D. in 2016, Ding stayed with the college, working as a postdoctoral research assistant and continuing her work on digital printing. In 2018 she accepted a position as a lecturer at the Donghua University College of Textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cI teach textile color management and textile supply chain management,\u201d Ding says. \u201cI am also continuing my research on textile digital printing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of her work, Ding mentors a number of graduate and undergraduate students, something she says her time at the college prepared her for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI supervise a few graduate students in China now,\u201d Ding says. \u201cIt always reminds me of my experience at NC State, always being open, accepting different opinions and creating interesting ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Wilson College of Textiles alumna Yi Ding is now an associate professor at Donghua University in Shanghai. Read how she got her start in the 3+X program.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":58288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"Mary Giuffrida","ncst_show_custom_author":true,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"displayCategoryID\":490,\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[742,490,479],"tags":[487,1143,2328,1408,1055,1382],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-58286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newswire","category-our-people","category-tecs","tag-alumni","tag-department-of-textile-engineering-chemistry-and-science","tag-graduate-programs","tag-m-s-textile-chemistry","tag-ph-d-fiber-and-polymer-science","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":{"term_id":490,"name":"Our People","slug":"our-people","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":490,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":686,"filter":"raw"},"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"