Ingrid Y. Liu is TCU’s 10th President, and She Will Lead TCU to Become an International University, Equipping its Students with Professional Skills and Knowledge, and Inspiring Them to Attend to Others’ Needs Altruistically

On August 1, 2019, TCU held the inauguration of its 10^th president at Hualien’s Jing Si Hall and more than seven hundred attended. President Pen-Jung Wang passed his presidential duties on to President Ingrid Y. Liu and Jing Si Abode’s Masters De Fan and De Chien also presented the University’s Seal to her. President Liu is TCU’s first lady president since its inception in 1994. Master De Fan pointed out that the essence of Tzu Chi’s education is “Teaching with propriety, educating with virtue, instructing with truth and guiding with principles.” Master De Fan expressed her gratitude to President Wang for leading TCU to place humanistic culture as its core for carrying out endeavors. The Master also pointed out the wish of the University’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, namely to transform minds around the world. Master De Fan hoped President Liu would follow in Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s steps, to be resolute in carrying out tasks effectively, leading TCU to become a university other universities will look up to and be willing to follow in its ways.

Academia Sinica President James C. Liao was unable to attend in person, but his Director of the Department of International Affairs, Chien-Chang Chen, conveyed his congratulatory message. President James C. Liao spoke highly of TCU. For the past 25 years, TCU has become a university that is people-oriented, has diverse campuses and is dedicated to nurturing professionals. TCU also advocates Tzu Chi values, equips its students with professional skills and knowledge, and leads them to altruistically attend to other’s needs. TCU is 67^th in THE University Impact Rankings 2019 and first in Taiwan. It has established its uniqueness; meanwhile, it goes with the trend of higher education across the globe, thus it is one of the universities in Taiwan which has great potential. President Ingrid Y. Liu has served at TCU for over 25 years and grown alongside it. President Liao believes President Liu is familiar with TCU’s governance, has a clear mission and vision of how to carry things out and will lead TCU to advance forward.

Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital was opened to the public in 1986 and it was badly in need of medical and nursing professionals. Consequently, Tzu Chi Nursing School was founded in 1989 and Tzu Chi College of Medicine was established in 1994. As of today, 30% of nursing professionals and 50% of physicians working for healthcare institutions in eastern Taiwan, or on the offshore islands, are Tzu Chi University alumni. Yi-Hua Chang, deputy chief-of-staff to the Magistrate of Hualien County, is grateful for TCU’s contribution to Hualien. TCU is located in Hualien and cares about Hualien, so it has collaborated with Hualien County Government on numerous projects. Mr. Chang looks forward to working with TCU continuously for the well-being of Hualien.

President Pen-Jung Wang served at TCU from April 2006 through July 2019 and he will continue to serve TCU in other capacities. He expressed his gratitude for Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s trust and support, as well as that of Tzu Chi members around the world and the members of Tzu-Cheng/Yi-Te Association. President Wang pointed out that TCU’s Silent Mentor Program is the best exemplar of how TCU instills humanistic culture into everyone’s hearts. He has attended over one hundred ceremonies to convey TCU’s gratitude for the altruistic giving of those Silent Mentors and to present plaques to their families. President Wang wishes to become a Silent Mentor someday and expects to be a member of Tzu Chi University forever.

In 1993, President Liu accepted the invitation from dean of the Tzu Chi College of Medicine, Ming-Liang Lee, to become a faculty member. In 1998, she received TCU’s scholarship to study neuroscience at the University of Southern California. After completing her Ph.D. program, she came back to TCU and dedicated herself to teaching and research in the Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics and the Institute of Medical Sciences. President Liu is interested in brain research, sees things clearly and carries things out effectively. In 2010, she became a member of TCU’s administrative team; in 2013, she was appointed dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Basic Education, and director of Faculty Development and Instructional Resources; in 2014, she was promoted to dean of the Office of Academic Affairs; in 2017, she was appointed a TCU vice president. In 2019, she was nominated as TCU’s president by the Presidential Search Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

In her inaugural address, President Liu said, “TCU is my first workplace and it will be my last workplace as well.” She expressed her appreciation to Dharma Master Cheng Yen, members of TCU’s Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Directors, for trusting her to have the capabilities to lead TCU. President Liu also expressed her thanks to President Wang and every other TCU president for their fine efforts. She promised to stand firmly on this solid ground, working with TCU’s faculty members, staff and students, to assist TCU to become an international university, equipping its students with professional skills and knowledge, and inspiring them to attend to other’s needs. President Liu wishes every TCU graduate will possess professionalism and altruism. She also foresees that TCU will look into the needs of Tzu Chi volunteers across the globe, and provide a variety of courses to meet their needs and enhance their capabilities. President Liu welcomed Tzu Chi volunteers to come to TCU to take short-term, undergraduate or graduate programs.

President Wang led TCU for more than thirteen years. Former President J.S. Fang expressed gratitude to President Wang on behalf of TCU. Master De Chien reminded TCU members not to forget the reason why Dharma Master Cheng Yen founded TCU. Master Cheng Yen established the University solely for the purpose of educating people, so the Dharma Master gave “Kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity” to TCU as the University motto, wishing TCU to provide a fine environment for its faculty members, staff and students to enhance their physical well-being and wisdom, and to prepare its students to become kind and compassionate persons as well as fine professionals. Master De Chien also expects President Liu to lead TCU forward, and cultivate more kind and compassionate individuals.