Dihua (Victoria) Xue, Ph.D. (she/her)

I view learning as a process shaped by practice and reflection. My teaching emphasizes active engagement and clear reasoning. By connecting study strategies to course content and modeling problem-solving, I help students become independent, resilient learners who can apply their knowledge to new challenges.

What advice do you have for first year students?

College learning is different — don’t rely on what worked before. Test yourself often, learn from errors and seek support early. With the right habits and persistence, you can succeed — even when it feels challenging.

Share a bit about your education journey. What did you take away from it?

I learned the hard way that memorization isn’t enough. It wasn’t until graduate school that I realized my old study habits — focused on surface understanding — couldn’t carry me forward. Learning is like Chinese calligraphy: if the brush doesn’t absorb enough ink, the characters look hollow and the strokes lack depth. Asking “why” and building deep understanding is what gives knowledge meaning.