Remembering
Professor
Leong Ching

As I celebrate Professor Ching’s life, three things or metaphors came to mind: a dinner, a green papaya and a steak-and-wine combo. All about food. When she learned my family was visiting Singapore for a week, she gladly offered to treat us to dinner. I thought this would only be at College Green. Instead, she brought us to the Singapore Island Country Club. It was a moment beautifully etched in my family's memory. For someone passionate about introducing Singapore to the world, she welcomed us wholeheartedly. She didn’t just open the door; she opened it wide enough so many could enter. She gave us a beautiful memory of Singapore, and perhaps, to many of her colleagues, friends and students. One afternoon, she messaged me and asked if I could pick up a green papaya she grew in her yard at College Green. As I was preoccupied with delivering courses that day, she came to my workstation and personally gave it to me. What a great addition to the chicken soup I prepared that night! Beyond academic prowess and intellectual brilliance, I will treasure Ching’s kindness and care towards everyone. While overseas delivering a course, she invited me and a colleague to a steak and wine night. Ching’s zest for life and living in the moment resonates with me until today. She also taught me one important lesson from wine: swirl the goblet first to breathe before taking a small sip! Because just like in life, we pause and think first before getting things done. And lest I forget, the fourth metaphor: Water. After learning about her work on Water issues in Singapore, I have never looked at Water the same way. Beyond the behaviours, emotions, and narratives surrounding it, Ching’s work reminded me that water is a vital welfare resource that benefits the poor and marginalised sectors of society. Talk about social justice! Rest in power, Ching! Farewell. Thank you! Your death leaves behind a grateful community. Please accept my condolences and prayers for the family's strength.

When I think of Ching, three qualities stand out in my memory. Her brave heart. I was always struck by the way she handled complex and difficult student issues — bravely, unflinchingly, and never shying away from tough situations. Her vision. I remember her vision for YIH, PGPR and other initiatives. It is heartening to see those visions come to fruition. Today, YIH is a vibrant student space, the various Houses in PGP and ‘Wed afternoons off for UGs’ are lasting reminders of what she had envisioned years ago. Her gift with words. She was the finest wordsmith I had come across in NUS. She had that rare ability to present facts while weaving in human emotions, making even official communications feel personal and meaningful. Even after we stopped working together, I could sometimes recognise her handprints in certain official communications. I would smile to myself, knowing that must have been her work. I will always remember her for her courage, vision and remarkable gift with words. She has left her mark on NUS in ways that will endure. May she rest in peace. Florence Ling NUS VPSL (2018 - 2020)

Prof Ching was not only an exceptional academic mentor but a deeply cherished friend whose impact on my life and career continues to resonate. Her guidance was defined by a rare generosity; she welcomed me into her home for many wonderful meals, helped allay my self-doubts and later provided unwavering encouragement and support when I transitioned to establish my own work in India. Beyond her academic brilliance, Prof Ching’s greatest lessons were those of character—specifically, the profound value of kindness and the duty of mentorship. Whenever I asked how I could ever properly thank her for her immense support, she would always give the same selfless reply: "pay it forward to someone else." I hope to honor her memory best by carrying her lessons and continuing to pay her kindness forward.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Prof Ching. I was privileged to be in one of the first cohorts of her Moral Reasoning and Policy Communication class. She was more than a teacher; she was a mentor and a confidant. I fondly remember how she challenged my policy thinking as I prepared to join the Singapore civil service, and how she gave me clear, candid advice as I weighed roles across different Ministries, gently guiding me to balance my values with my career aspirations. She cared deeply for her students. I remember a small group dinner with her and fellow LKYSPP students at College Green, where she opened up her home and her world to us. I had planned to attend her lecture at LSE in March this year, and I regret letting work keep me from that chance to see and hear her in London. I will always cherish the few but meaningful moments I shared with her at LKYSPP.

I met Professor Leong Ching at a seminar just this June. I still vividly remember her thought-provoking questions, warm smile, and vibrant presence. I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of her sudden passing. May she rest in peace. She will be deeply missed as an outstanding scholar and colleague.

I had the privilege to be Prof Ching’s TA and observed first-hand how passionate and committed she was to help students critically understand and apply Moral reasoning to societal issues. Outside class, Prof Ching’s concern and warmth for me and my classmates were keenly felt through her caring actions and conversations. Deeply saddened by her sudden passing. Her legacy and inspiration lives on in each and every one of us. Deepest condolences to Prof’s family and loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.

It was with deep sadness that I learnt of Prof. Ching’s passing. I had the privilege to work for her as a research assistant during my Master's program at LKYSPP. I will always cherish the memory of her curiosity, which made her such a sharp and witty researcher, and of her joy and wonderful sense of humor. Her commitment to her students was at the heart of her rise to leadership at LKYSPP. She loved being among them, and she kept a youthful spirit that inspired people around her. My thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. May she rest in peace.

Condolences to Prof Leong's family and loved ones She was a helpful ally towards navigating the matters of students and the administration while providing a voice of reason behind the backdrop of opposing figures and voices. Without her, the welfare and voices of students will be diminished. Thank you for the work done.

Although I do not know Prof Leong personally, I have heard so much about her from others within NUS. I attended one the NUS events which Prof Leong was the moderator for the panel and she was so brilliant with all the discussions, questions, answers and then provided summary for every point. That was my first time seeing such an exciting and forward thinking conversations between her and the panelists although I have attended multiple fireside chats etc. It is indeed a shock to all of us and deepest condolences to her family and love ones. RIP, Prof Leong and you will be missed.

Deeply saddened by Professor Leong's sudden and unexpected passing. I've had the pleasure of attending and speaking with Prof Leong at several events at the LKY School of Public Policy, and learnt so much from her at each session. She was also always so warm and kind whenever my classmates and I saw her around school. She will be dearly missed. I offer my most sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.

I am in Antalya, Turkiye for the COP31 Meeting, when I heard the passing of my good friend Leong Ching. I am saddened by the news as I had known Leong Ching for more than 20 years, when she was with Straits Times and supported many NYAA youth projects. She was a kind and passionate person and always willing to go the extra mile to help those in need. I met her recently at the NUS Achievement Awards Ceremony two week ago and was shock that she has left us. May her soul rest in peace. My sympathy and condolences to her family. James Soh Executive Director National Youth Achievement Award Council

I had the privilege of taking Prof. Ching’s course on Moral Reasoning over a decade ago, and her teaching has stayed with me ever since. She had a remarkable gift for making difficult questions of morality come alive, even taking us beyond the classroom to visit the SG central prison and the Geylang district. I also fondly remember being invited to her home for dinner, where she and her husband treated us to a special durian ceremony to end the evening. These are memories I will always cherish. Prof. Ching touched lives in ways that extended far beyond the classroom and left a lasting mark on the NUS community. Gone far too soon, but remembered with deep gratitude and affection.

Professor Leong Ching’s compassion, generosity and unwavering dedication to making NUS a better place have touched and enriched so many lives. I am deeply grateful for her kindness, humility and the genuine care she always showed towards staff. Her thoughtfulness and quiet strength made a lasting difference, and I feel privileged to have known and experienced her warmth. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of many. She will be dearly missed. Thank you, Professor Leong, for all that you have given and for the difference you have made. My deepest and heartfelt condolences to your family and loved ones.

In remembrance When I joined the LKY School of Public Policy in 2011, Ching was finishing the PhD. Over the next fourteen years that I was at the School, she was Senior Fellow at the Institute of Water Policy and later a faculty colleague. I remember vividly her lively and engaging job talk, her promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, and then her move into administration at the university level. This is how I got to know her and came to respect her intellect and commitment to NUS over a decade and a half. My enduring image of Ching was as a sophisticated, courteous, and unobtrusively knowledgeable presence – in the hallways, in meetings, on social occasions. She was a go-to person on anything to do with Singapore and a great promoter of Singapore studies and of the city and its culture. When she was Resident Advisor of College Green, she brought Singapore content to the talks and cultural festivities which was much appreciated by the foreign students under her care. (She also gave Donald Low and me a fine wine-tasting dinner in her College Green house!) Academically, I admired Ching’s work on water, especially her analysis of Singapore water issues and how Singaporeans had overcome the initial feeling of “yuck” associated with high-grade recycled water – for me, as a foreigner, it was a revelation. I recall too her work on vaccine hesitancy which she coolly addressed. Her mix of methodological approaches, both qualitative and quantitative, was illuminating in both these streams of work – I particularly liked her insistence on emotions and narrativity in public policy. In my field, International Relations, research on emotions is growing – Ching’s work in public policy, it seems to me, was ahead of the curve in acknowledging the important influence of emotions in collective life. At the School, we certainly missed Ching all those years that she was in NUS administration. She was a valued teacher, and I wish she had had more time with our students. I remember her wistfully talking about teaching days and hoping to return to the classroom fulltime. Sadly, that was not to be. But our loss was NUS’ gain as she went on to helm student affairs at the university level. She often recounted that it was challenging work but that she enjoyed making a difference – and you could see in her eyes the satisfaction she felt. Before I left Singapore in June 2025, Ching very kindly organized a farewell dinner for me with select colleagues. We had a rambunctious and robust discussion about our days at the School and NUS. There was wonderful food and wine, and she was gracious in curating the full flow of candid conversation and in giving us a sense of the larger picture that university administrations must have as they steer the ship. The university has posted a lovely picture of Ching – it so-well captures her spirit and persona. We will miss both. To her family, deepest condolences and all strength in these difficult days.

Dear Ching, you helped me unconditionally when I was in most need, and without even me asking for it. I will forever remember your kindness. I will miss you very dearly.

It was a privilege to have known Prof Ching during my time at College Green. I will always remember the extraordinary kindness she and her family showed me during a particularly difficult time in my life. She went out of her way to make so many students feel supported and cared for. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.

Rest in Peace, dear Prof Leong Ching. You were very devoted scholar and the most welcoming teacher. I still clearly recall the moment when you invited us - your MPA students - to your home in College Green for a lunch with your family. We love you ❤️

Ching first approached me to share about my constituency work and my project on Kampong Lorong Buangkok, with one of her classes at LKYSPP, back in 2018. That was the start of a wonderful professional relationship between Ching and I. As fellow academics, our paths crossed on many occasions and each one was always a great catch-up, filled with warmth and laughter. Ching is gone too soon, and the academic fraternity in Singapore has lost an established academic and a beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Ching. You will be dearly missed.

Prof Leong Ching was someone I held in great reverence. I came to know her as someone deeply kind and compassionate, who held herself and those around her to high standards. Her legacy and dedication to student life will live on through the many lives she has touched. She will be dearly missed. Rest in peace, Prof Leong.

Remember when Prof. Leong first came to OSA as Dean of Students in 2019, it was a difficult year as COVID struck, she was everywhere to take care of students who came back from overseas, taking care of them, delivering food to each and everyone at the hostels. She leads the whole OSA team to providing care for the students with her wonderful leadership. So deeply shocked and saddened by her passing. Dear Prof., you will always be remembered for your kindness and positive attitude towards people around you. RIP.