Photo of Dr. Xiao-Ning Zhang and Dr. Charles Walker
Courtesy of Dr. Charles Walker
BY: CHRIS DOODY, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Love saved us,” said Dr. Xiao-Ning Zhang, professor of biology and director for the biochemistry program at St. Bonaventure University, and Dr. Charles Walker, professor emeritus of psychology. “We have been together as a couple for a total of 4 years, married for 2 years and 4 months. We’re sort of newlyweds.”
Zhang and Walker first met in 2010 on a hike with a bunch of friends who enjoyed hiking and kayaking, but would meet again in 2011.
“We were just friends then,” said Zhang. “In 2020 both of us lost our life partners. A year later, after trying to deal with our losses alone, we fortunately met again while kayaking, and decided to see each other more regularly.”
Zhang is still highly engaged with teaching and research and community service work. Walker is a professor emeritus, a retired faculty member who still retains their rank, but he is still affiliated with the University.
“Both of us are academics who enjoy teaching and doing research and talking about the delights and challenges of our profession, and we absolutely love being a part of the Bonaventure community,” said Zhang.
Zhang and Walker said, meeting each other helped them deal with loss of their life partners.
“[Love] helped us deal with loss and heal,” said Zhang. “It created a bridge across cultural, age and personality differences. It showed us how to thrive as individuals and as a couple. As the song says, ‘love is all you need.’”
