Sadaf is the Director of Studies at the Ridge View Residential College, where she teaches interdisciplinary courses about urban sustainability, placemaking, and built heritage, using experiential formats. She is an accomplished outdoor educator, and her contributions have been recognised with several university teaching awards (individual and team). She has led curriculum development for undergraduate programmes and successful collaborations with institutional and industry partners to enhance youth engagement on sustainability. In 2024, she was selected as a Fellow of the NUS Teaching Academy. She also provides strategic guidance as part of the steering committee of the ASEAN University Network on Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC) since 2019, to enhance collaboration for sustainability education initiatives among ASEAN IHLs, youth, and public stakeholders.
Sadaf is a licensed architect from the School of Planning and Architecture (India), with a Master's in Architecture & Urban Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her academic and research interests are anchored by a decade of professional experience in architecture and
Masterplanning. She has worked on diverse projects in SouthEast Asia with an emphasis on placemaking and sustainability, ranging from masterplans for biodiverse locations like Bali (Indonesia), Ream National Park (Cambodia), and Xixi Wetlands (China) to urban redevelopment projects near heritage sites such as Halong Bay, Vietnam and Jal Mahal Jaipur, India. She has managed projects at the intersection of architecture, urban design and landscape, with world-renowned design firms such as Steven Holl Architects, Arata Isozaki & Associates, and David Chipperfield Architects.
Beyond the formal demands of academia, Sadaf regularly organises activities to enable students to explore heritage, culture and the arts. She actively fosters an environment of care for students that prioritises their wellness with informal support frameworks. In her free time, she fondly reminisces about the world before social media.
A/P Sadaf ANSARI
Director of Studies , Coordinator for Publicity
Wong Soon Fen is a lifelong learner who began her education journey outdoors as a child where hours were spent playing with friends from the neighbouring ‘kampongs’ before her first formal education in the now defunct Cambridge Primary School. The journey continued in different schools and culminated at NUS where she spent four years playing (and learning!) at Kent Ridge Hall while majoring in English Language and Sociology, and received her BA (Hons) in English Language. It took on a few different tracks as she traversed across the playgrounds at the College of Physical Education, Raffles Girls’ School, Shree Panch Ratna Rajya Laxmi Girls’ High School (Nepal) and Southeast East Asian Ministry of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Language Centre (RELC), and along the way, picked up an MSc in Applied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh before her current stop at NUS. Since joining NUS at the Centre for English Language Communication (CELC) in 2007, College of Alice & Peter Tan (formerly Angsana College) in 2012 and Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) in 2022, she has taught and learnt from undergraduates and postgraduates from different schools – Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Computing, Design and Environment, Science, Medicine and Music. As a student, teacher, teacher trainer, project manager and mentor at the different stations, Soon Fen has had the privilege of interacting with the beautiful peoples in Botswana, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. This ongoing learning journey has given her research opportunities in language teaching, teacher education, pedagogy, collaborative learning, experiential learning, intercultural communication and educational work in developing countries.
Ms WONG Soon Fen
Director of Residential Life, Resident Fellow, Panthera House
Mr Lim Cheng PuayCheng Puay is a biologist by training. As a veteran educator, he has worked with different educational institutions including serving as the Head of Global Readiness at the Centre for Experiential Learning (Singapore University of Social Sciences). Cheng Puay is highly passionate in experiential and outdoor learning; he is happiest when he is out trekking in the forest or kayaking in the sea. A volunteer with the NUS Toddycats for over 20 years, he regularly engages the public as a nature guide, and helps coordinate coastal clean-ups with the International Coastal Clean-up Singapore (ICCS).
He looks forward to working with RVRC students on impactful outdoor and nature conservation projects.
Mr LIM Cheng Puay
Director of Outreach, Resident Fellow, Rusa House
Dr Eunice Ng
Director of Student Life & Resident Fellow, Manis House
e.ng@nus.edu.sg
Dr. Eunice Ng joined RVRC as a Fellow since September 2021. She received her Bachelor degree in Accountancy and her PhD in Strategic Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Eunice enjoys teaching and researching topics that lie at the intersection of business, society, and the natural environment. Her research projects encompass not only companies in the United States, but also in the contexts of Mongolia and Singapore. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Eunice was an audit senior at a big four accounting firm, working on audit engagements in the luxury retail, manufacturing, and medical industries.
In her personal time, Eunice enjoys KonMari-ing her home and watching Korean variety shows to de-stress.
Dr Eunice NG
Director of Student Life & Resident Fellow, Manis House
Desmond joined the RVRC team in July 2016. He is a Lecturer and the Associate Director of Student Life.
An engineer by training and profession, he found a deep passion for sports. He subsequently made a switch into education, teaching physical education (PE) and mathematics. After obtaining his Master of Science (Exercise and Sport Studies), he went on to teach at the National Institute of Education (NIE) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Desmond is a strong advocate for sports, outdoor adventure and volunteer work. His volunteer work took him as far as Istanbul. He is a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics Singapore. In 2019, he attended the Sports Visitor Program for Adaptive Swimming in the US (supported by US Embassy Singapore and SportCares). He has attended Outward Bound courses in Singapore and Australia. He is an avid sportsman who counts swimming as his favourite sports and has played water polo and sailed in his younger years.
Desmond loves to travel because he believes the world is his classroom. He believes that travelling and the great outdoors inspire learning. He is also a ‘crazy’ LEGO® Star Wars collector!
He is a Certified Behaviour and Career Coach. As a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, he uses LEGO® bricks in meetings, workshops and classrooms. He is a strong advocate of the experiential learning model and constructivism theory.
With 20 years of teaching, his vast experience has helped him develop and mentor students in personal, interpersonal and leadership skills in the schools and tertiary institutions that he taught in. Desmond’s passion is in developing potential in people, and he is always looking for ways to coach and mentor students. He looks forward to working with the students of RVRC, to prepare them for the real world, especially the workplace.
May the Force be with You!
Mr Desmond NG
Assoc. Director, Alumni Relations
Magdalena is a critical medical anthropologist with extensive interdisciplinary training in humanities and social sciences, with a focus on Asia. Since 2008 she has lived, studied, and worked in Asia’s many fascinating regions. She has conducted original ethnographic research in Yunnan Province, Kashmir Valley, and the Ladakh region. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and Hindi/Urdu.
Magdalena's research is comparative and interdisciplinary and concerns one of the most complex and fascinating issues in social sciences, namely the intersection of medicine and culture. In particular, she is interested in how culture and larger social context shape the way we think about health, experience illness, and seek help, with a focus on everyday life.
Magdalena has learned a great deal about sustainable living from farmers, artisans, and shepherds in both the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, and subsequently became a committed and critical advocate for just and sustainable development. Magdalena is also a dedicated educator, passionate about sharing her academic and non-academic knowledge and skills with learners of all ages and backgrounds. She won three Graduate Student Teaching Awards for her TA duties during her PhD training program at NUS. For a couple of years before joining the RVRC, she gave talks on the history of cashmere fabric and the principles of sustainable tourism to visitors in Ladakh.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Magdalena has a deep passion for Central Asian design and handicrafts, particularly the intricate artistry and cultural heritage they represent. She loves nature, especially the challenge, views, and solitude that mountains offer, and whenever time permits, she explores the trekking routes of Ladakh and Kashmir with her husband and son.
Dr Magdalena Jeziorna SURKHA
Fellow
Dr Kelvin Lee
Fellow
Kelvin was a Lecturer with the Singapore University of Social Sciences before joining RVRC. Prior to that, Kelvin begun his career at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as a teaching and research assistant. He had a brief stint at the Energy Market Authority and was a Researcher at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Kelvin graduated from NUS with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with First Class Honours in Political Science in 2008, and with a Master in Public Policy degree in 2012 from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from the Australian National University in 2019.
Kelvin’s academic interests lie in international relations, comparative politics, political economy, political sociology and the environment. Outside those, Kelvin likes drinking coffee, reading the news, jogging, and playing the occasional board game with friends or on his mobile and game console.
Dr Kelvin LEE
Fellow
Dr Lin Wenlin Yvonne
Fellow
With a keen interest in materials and their application, Yvonne pursued a B.Eng. in Materials Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University. An unexpected exposure to a course on Materials and the Environment served as a pivotal moment that connected her passion for environmental issues with her expertise in materials. This realisation led Yvonne to pursue further education, obtaining an M.Sc. and PhD in Environmental Engineering, spending close to 10 years researching on waste management and solid waste treatment.
Prior to joining RVRC as a Fellow in 2023, Yvonne worked in WWF-SG as a Materials Expert, providing guidance to businesses towards sustainable development, and simplifying the complexities of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) - a technical tool that evaluates the impact of different materials on the environment.
In her introspective moments, Yvonne contemplates the habits of individuals who might not be environmentally conscious, particularly when it comes to single-use items. She is motivated to find ways to communicate technological insights in a manner that resonates with students, ultimately aiming to influence behavioural change and encourage more sustainable practices.
Dr LIN Wenlin Yvonne
Fellow
Susan Lee is a Lecturer at the Center for English Language and Communication (CELC). She has taught English communication for over 20 years at IHLs and with corporate clients. She is ACTA (WSQ Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment) certified and passionate in designing learning to enhance individuals’ skills in interpersonal communication and business communication. She has produced a Coursera module for the course, Effective Communication in the Globalised Workplace. In addition to teaching professional communication courses, Susan designs and facilitates workshops on internship preparation, assertive communication, presentation and storytelling, email-writing, and networking. She also trains and mentors on programs focussing on English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI).
When the opportunity arose for her to combine passion with pedagogy, Susan designed a course on film adaptation, and is currently teaching the course as part of the GE Critique and Expression pillar at RVRC. Besides films, her interests include hiking, reading, baking and travelling.
Ms Susan LEE Mien San
Course Co-ordinator, Critique & Expressions Pillar, Honorary Joint Appointment
Assoc. Professor Graham Wolfe
Resident Fellow, Aonyx House
Graham is an Associate Professor with the Department of English Language and Literature. He has a PhD in Drama from the University of Toronto, and he teaches modules about theatre, including “The Theatre Experience”, “Major Playwrights of the 20th Century” and “Theatre Ecologies”. His own research is very interdisciplinary, focusing on intersections between theatre and other topics such as novels, philosophy, and psychoanalysis, but he also writes a lot about popular cultures, like music videos and 80s rock music. He believes that some of the most important learning in university occurs outside of classroom settings, through things like residence life and social activities, and that’s one of the reasons he thinks it’s valuable to be a resident fellow as well as a prof.
Graham was born in South Africa but lived most of his life in Canada before coming to Singapore in 2012. He continues to be an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs (the ice hockey team), even though they haven’t won a championship since 1967.
A/P Graham WOLFE
Resident Fellow, Aonyx House
Assoc. Professor Elmie Nekmat
Resident Fellow, Chelonia House
A/Prof. Elmie Nekmat is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communications and New Media. He is concurrently a Principal Investigator for the Center for Trusted Internet and Community and Research Associate at the Center for Family and Population Research in NUS. He specializes in media effects research, focused on the social psychological processes and effects of source and information evaluation on civic engagement and expression on social media. A/Prof. Elmie has received several recognitions for his teaching and research, including top research awards in communication and media studies and the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in NUS.
Beyond the academe, A/Prof. Elmie contributes to public bodies where his research help inform digital media, education, and community development. He is currently a Council member in the Global Future Council for Media, Entertainment and Sport for the World Economic Forum and Board member for the National Library and the Singapore Sports Council. He actively contributes to media and literacy development in Singapore as member of the Media Literacy Council and the Digital for Life Steering Committee for the Info-Communications and Media Development Authority.
In whatever free time he gets, A/Prof. Elmie spends it reading and playing with his kids, cycling through the hills of Bukit Timah, and going for long jogs on the pavement beside roads - in that order.
A/P Elmie Nekmat
Resident Fellow, Chelonia House
A/P LUM Sau Kim
Resident Fellow, Orcaella House
Sau Kim is Associate Vice President (Global Relations) at NUS and oversees the NUS Global Relations Office (GRO). GRO manages the university’s mobility programmes and uni-to-uni relationships through Alliances, Networks and other collaboration arrangements. She is also a faculty member of the Department of Real Estate at NUS Business School. A former ASEAN scholar, she obtained her B.Sc. (Estate Management) honors degree from NUS and her Masters in Land Economy from University of Aberdeen. After joining NUS as a Senior Tutor, Sau Kim pursued a PhD in Business Administration (Finance and Real Estate) from University of California at Berkeley.
Winner of several teaching awards in the university, Sau Kim teaches real estate finance, wealth management and securitization. She has research interests in the areas of housing and land policy, and green finance. Her work on index construction led to the development of various house price indices that are used for measuring both public and private housing price movement in Singapore. She has also consulted for various public and private organizations including Citibank, GIC , Housing & Development Board, Ministry of Housing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Law of Singapore, Singapore Land Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority. She currently sits on the Land Acquisition Appeals Board of the Ministry of Law.
Sau Kim has three girls. In whatever spare time she has, she enjoys cooking (and eating), reading, and movies.
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A/P LUM Sau Kim
Resident Fellow, Orcaella House
A/P Peace Wong is an Associate Professor with the Department of Social Work. She teaches different practice modules at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels. In recognition of her outstanding achievements in teaching, she received the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award (2014-2022), Annual Teaching Excellence Award (2019, 2020, 2022) and is placed on Annual Teaching Excellence Award Honour Roll (2023-2027). She enjoys teaching and has joined the NUS Teaching Academy to contribute her service in education development.
Prior to joining NUS, A/P Peace Wong has worked in the government and social service sector in management, direct service, as well as research work to enhance social work practice with children and youths, as well as their families. She is also involved in several consultancy projects with the government and social service sector in research projects, curriculum development and evaluation. She was awarded Friends of MSF Award (2019), which is presented to individual volunteers or organisations which have made significant contributions to committees or projects under the purview of Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). For her invaluable contributions in advancing the standards of Social Work supervision and education, A/P Peace Wong is conferred the Outstanding Social Worker Award (2023), which is the highest award to Social Workers conferred by the President of the Republic of Singapore.
A/P Peace Wong is currently appointed as Chairperson/member to various advisory boards, committees and panels in the Government and social service agencies. These include the Ministry of Social and Family Development, SHINE Children and Youth Services, Counselling & Care Centre and Fei Yue Community Services – Advisory Committee for Research (ACR) and Student Advisory Committee with a primary school.
As a passionate educator, A/P Peace Wong hopes to foster in students a curiosity towards life and learning. As a Resident Fellow, she hopes to create opportunities for students to discover their strengths and abilities through their RVRC experience.
She loves the nature and enjoys listening to music, reading, traveling and climbing the Bt. Timah Hill.
A/P Peace WONG Yuh Ju
Resident Fellow, Strix House
Sivasothi N. who joined RVRC in our first year as a lecturer for GEQ1917 has been the Director of Studies at RVRC since July 2016- June 2021. He is nicknamed ‘Otterman’ for his pioneering research with the animals since the early 90's which coupled his love of mangrove and wildlife. He brings with him extensive research and field experience in the area of biodiversity. A man of many hats and talents, he is a senior lecturer with the Department of Biological Sciences and also a Research Affiliate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), formerly known as the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR). He is also Singapore's national coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup since 2000.
Among the first to blog about green issues in Singapore, Sivasothi is the editor of Habitatnews and manages and regularly contributes to various nature-related blogs and mailing lists, which connects the research and natural history community with members of public. An active nature guide to field sites in Singapore, Otterman frequently organises roadshows, workshops and symposia to give animals and plants a voice and to train the next generation. It was his efforts in promoting biodiversity that helped bring the marine ecosystems of Pulau Ubin’s Chek Jawa to public and government attention, contributing to the deferment of reclamation of that precious wetlands in 2001.
When not in a class or the mangroves, Sivasothi is an active cyclist who promotes cycling and road safety in Singapore. A self-professed Macintosh computer addict, he organizes Mac meetups and dishes out tips on his blog for Mac users.
As an educator, Sivasothi has a strong belief in RVRC's promise of a fulfilling integrated living and learning undergraduate experience. RVRC's excellent exposure of undergraduates to sustainability issues is a simply a wonderful bonus for this environmentalist!
Mr N. Sivasothi
Honorary Joint Appointment
Dr Chua Siew Chin
Honorary Joint Appointment
Siew Chin is an ecologist and started her teaching journey at the Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) in August 2016. Her teaching philosophy is to get guide students to become self‐directed life long learners who are interested about their environment, critical thinkers and problem solvers. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science from National University of Singapore, Siew Chin worked for the Center for Tropical Forest Science to investigate the dynamics and regeneration of forests in Singapore. Subsequently she did her PhD in Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley, and researched on the interactions between biotic and abiotic systems as secondary forests recover from human uses. Her current research interest integrates both recovery of natural terrestrial ecosystems, as well as their sustainability in and contributions to an increasingly urbanized landscape. Siew Chin enjoys outdoor activities such as mountain trekking. Despite having been to many stunning peaks, the local summit of Bukit Timah, where she worked and did numerous practice hikes, has a special place in her heart. Her advice for undergraduates – make friends and together enjoy the journeys up life’s many mountains.
Dr CHUA Siew Chin
Honorary Joint Appointment
Mr. Veerappan SWAMINATHAN
Honorary Joint Appointment
Veerappan Swaminathan (Veera) is the founder of Sustainable Living Lab (SL2), a sustainability and innovation consulting firm with operations in Singapore, Indonesia, India, and the US. Under his leadership, SL2 has collaborated with governments and multinational corporations to enhance workforce development, support corporate sustainability transitions, and build climate resilience.
Veera actively contributes to several initiatives, serving as co-chair of the Climate Action SG Alliance, an EXCO member of the SGTech Sustainability Steering Committee, a Fellow of the EdSAFE AI Alliance Leadership Network, and a member of the NUS Alumni Advisory Board. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and USP, as well as a Master's degree in Intellectual Property Management, both from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
In 2023, Veera was recognized as a United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) SDG Pioneer for his innovative contributions to advancing Sustainable Development Goals through education and technology. His professional interests include artificial intelligence, strategic foresight, educational technology, and sustainability. Veera was also among the regional pioneers of the Maker Movement and co-founded Repair Kopitiam in Singapore.
Mr. Veerappan SWAMINATHAN
Honorary Joint Appointment
