The University of St. Thomas (UST) launched the 2024 academic year by celebrating its Taiwan & East Asia Studies Program (TEASP) and acknowledging the community partners who have played a key role in its success. This event, aligned with UST’s global Greater Things 2030 Strategic Vision, was notably marked by the generous contributions of distinguished members from Houston’s Taiwanese and Taiwanese-American communities.
UST President Dr. Richard Ludwick began the evening by acknowledging the contributions of former UST Board Member Don Wang, current Board Member Rocky Lai, and other prominent figures from the local Taiwanese-American community. He was joined in welcoming the guests by Director General Yvonne Hsiao and Education Division Director Andrea Yang from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston. Among the notable attendees was Katherine Ho, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions in Houston.
A highlight of the event was the recognition of Mr. Wang’s more than a decade of service in promoting international academic and student exchange between UST and universities throughout Taiwan. In July, Wang was awarded the prestigious Taiwan Education Award and Medal of Professional Education by Taiwan’s Minister of Education. At the August 15 event, Dr. Ludwick presented Wang with the UST Global Service Award, commending his efforts in building international bridges that enrich the university's cultural exchanges.
During his remarks, Wang announced a $60,000 gift from four university benefactors to support UST’s Celt Study Abroad Scholarships. These scholarships will enhance the university’s ability to increase the number and amount of scholarships for students studying abroad at any sister university or in faculty-led programs. “The gifts to the Celt Study Abroad Scholarship were an incredible conclusion to an evening replete with fellowship and joy for the great things we can accomplish together as a community that is both local and international”, noted the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Dr. Hans Stockton, Associate Vice President of International Relations & Engagement.
The event included the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a new five-year Taiwan Studies Grant from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, building on the previous grant that supported the expansion of UST’s Taiwan & East Asia Studies Program from 2019 to 2024. Under Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh’s leadership since 2020, the program has emerged as a key player in Taiwan and East Asia studies, offering research, conferences, courses, and community events. Notably, TEASP’s Mandarin for Law Enforcement training for Houston Police Department officers, certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), will start its eighth year this fall. “We are fortunate to receive another five-year Taiwan Studies Grant from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education. We will continue deepening the knowledge and awareness of Taiwan within our Houston community and beyond”, Dr. Yeh said.
Building on TEASP’s success, UST has created the Mandarin Center of UST & Wenzao Ursuline University of Foreign Languages in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Funded by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education through the HuaYu BEST Scholarship Program and led by Dr. Yeh, the Mandarin Center provides Mandarin language courses, specialized training for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and scholarships for UST students to study at Wenzao Ursuline University of Foreign Languages.
