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School of Child and Youth Care

Meet our alumni: Travis Yang

February 02, 2026

Travis Yang standing in front of the ocean on a sunny day.

If you're a current SCYC student, you might know Travis Yang due to his work as a sessional instructor. Travis is also a recent SCYC graduate: last year, he completed his PhD in Child, Youth, Family & Community Studies with a thesis titled 'Together We Teach: An Arts-based Research Study with Co-teachers In International Bilingual Kindergartens in China.' He recalls his PhD experience as tough, but rewarding: "It took time, a lot of patience, going back and forth, thinking and rethinking, searching and researching, doing and redoing or sometimes undoing." 

Why did you want to do a PhD? 

My reasoning for wanting to do a PhD dates back to 2017, when I worked as a research assistant at the University of Hong Kong. At this time, I was involved in multiple research projects, and I was fascinated by the processes of research: how every research project started with an idea and could gradually be developed into something bigger with lasting and meaningful impacts. Doing a PhD, however, granted me the autonomy to locate a topic that’s deeply interesting to me, and to drive it forward myself, with the support of my supervisor and research committee.  

I wanted to do a PhD in CYC because I am passionate about supporting the well-being of children, youth and our community, and my years of working with children as an arts therapist. 

What was the focus of your doctoral research?  

The focus of my doctoral research was on examining co-teaching in Chinese international and bilingual schools. Co-teaching in such contexts usually refers to a teaching approach where two teachers, typically one Chinese and one non-Chinese national teacher, deliver classes in the same space with the same group of students. I was especially interested in exploring how various socio-economic, politico-historical factors and power dynamics could impact co-teaching relationships and shape teachers’ values and beliefs as teachers and individuals. Coming from a background in expressive arts therapy, I was also interested in exploring how arts-based methodology and visual methods could contribute to the understanding of teachers’ co-teaching experiences. 

What are your future career hopes and plans? 

Currently, I live with my wife and our cat, Chips, in Vancouver. I continue to work as a sessional instructor for our CYC school at UVic, and I wish to find more opportunities working in the field, whether as a youth worker or arts therapist, while continuing to teach and support students at the postsecondary level. 

What is your advice for future doctoral students in our program? 

Be mentally and physically prepared for this long journey. Doing a PhD will be one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult thing you will ever do in your life. But don’t be discouraged, once you finish, it will be one of the most satisfying and rewarding feelings you will ever experience. Your doctoral journey does not have to be a lonely journey. Being open to help and support from your supervisor, your professors and research committee, your peers, and your friends and family will make this journey go much smoother. Always hold on to your reasoning and passion that led you to this journey. Don’t let that go!