Fong Chan, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and leading scholar in the field of rehabilitation counseling, has died.
Chan joined the UW–Madison faculty in 1992 and spent more than two decades in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education. During his tenure, he served as department chair and was the inaugural Norman L. and Barbara M. Berven Professor of Rehabilitation Psychology. He retired in 2018.
“I have known and worked with Fong for more than 45 years, initially as one of his professors and, subsequently, as a dear friend and one of my closest colleagues,” said UW–Madison Professor Emeritus Norm Berven. “I will miss him greatly, as will so many of his former students and colleagues throughout the U.S. and abroad.”
A licensed psychologist and certified rehabilitation counselor, Chan was recognized nationally and internationally for his scholarship. He was a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Distinguished Research Fellow. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he authored over 500 journal articles and edited four foundational textbooks that continue to shape education, research, and practice in rehabilitation psychology.
Chan’s work addressed a wide range of critical issues, with a central focus on helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment. His research contributed to improved outcomes across multiple settings.
Equally impactful was his dedication to the next generation of scholars. As the director of doctoral training in rehabilitation psychology, Chan guided hundreds of students to completion of their PhDs and remained a trusted advisor throughout their careers.
“He often told our PhD graduates that the warranty on their degree never expires, and he put that commitment into practice, always available to provide support, consultation, collaboration, and counsel,” said Berven. “He truly treated our former graduates as not only colleagues, but as part of his academic ‘family.’”
Chan received many honors for his contributions to the field, including the George Wright Varsity Award and the James R. Garrett Award for Distinguished Career Achievement. In 2016, he received both the American Psychological Association Division of Rehabilitation Psychology’s Tamera Dembo and Beatrice Wright Award and the Distinguished Career Award from the National Council on Rehabilitation Education.
Born in Hong Kong in 1955, Chan developed an interest in working with people with disabilities after spending time with his brother in a convalescent home following surgery.
“At a young age I became exposed to children with impairments and disabilities,” Chan once said. “So from the time I was maybe nine years old, this was built into my mind as something that interested me.”
Chan later moved to the United States to pursue his education, earning a bachelor’s degree in vocational education from the University of Wisconsin–Stout, a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University, and a PhD in rehabilitation counseling psychology and applied statistics from UW–Madison.
He began his academic career at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1983–88) and the Illinois Institute of Technology (1988–92), before returning to UW–Madison as a faculty member.
“Fong was a dear and wise colleague, mentor, and friend,” said Kimber Wilkerson, chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education and professor of special education. “He was generous with his time and positive in his demeanor. He modeled collaborative and inclusive research and training practices, often inviting junior colleagues into his many projects.”
“Fong also could be counted on as a steady, level head in deliberations,” Wilkerson added. “Our department was truly privileged to claim him.”
Read more about Fong Chan’s remarkable life.