PUBLISHED ONUPDATEDBYSean LerThe National University of Singapore's (NUS) vice provost of student life, Professor Leong Ching, has died.
Her passing was first announced in a Facebook post by veteran diplomat and international law professor Tommy Koh on Friday morning (Nov 6).
She was professor in behavioural public policy at the university with research interests in water policies, environment behaviour, public sector reform, and communications strategies.
According to the university, Prof Leong's research project before she died included the use of smart meter to motivate reduced water use, negative spillovers in response to non-economic incentives, and the impact of narratives on governance.
She taught the core governance classes of the Master in Public Administration, and was a journalist at the Singapore Press Holdings for about 13 years before entering academia.
Prof Koh, 88, said he knew the late Prof Leong since the time she was a journalist, recalling that they had teamed up to write a paper together in favour of drinking tap water and against drinking bottled water.
According to the former ambassador-at-large, Leong was only recently promoted to full professor.
"We had a good discussion about her new job. Ching, I will never forget you and your kindness," he wrote.
Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam also took to Facebook to remember the late professor.
Calling her a dear friend, he said Prof Leong was his first legislative assistant when he was a backbench member of parliament.
"She and I worked on many of my speeches as a MP together. Over the years, we kept in touch. I have seen her grow in her career...She was a kind, generous and lively person," he recalled.
Added Shanmugam: "It is very sad to see someone with so much potential pass away so suddenly at such a young age."
Later the same evening, Education Minister Desmond Lee also posted a tribute to Prof Leong, recalling her deep passion for issues ranging from public policy to sustainability.
Lee said she made important contributions to university life, research and public policy, noting that her commentaries were published in The New York Times, the International Herard Tribune, The Jakarta Post, China Daily, and various local news outlets.
"Thank you, Leong Ching, for reminding us to look beyond our fears and draw on our inner strength to overcome the challenges we face. You will be greatly missed," Lee wrote.