David Jung-Kuang Chiu
Encyclopedia
David Jung-Kuang Chiu ; (1936–2006), was a Chinese
-born American
leader in education, serving as both Professor and Dean at Hofstra University
from 1970 to 2001 when he retired.
During 1936, Professor David J. Chiu was born on July 11, in Gulangyu
, a westernized Island-city in southern China
to Minxian and Juyin Chiu. At the time, Gulangyu was the location of the consulate offices of the Western countries in China. Soon after Chiu's birth, the family moved to Qinhuangdao
in northern China, the starting point of the Great Wall of China
. In 1947 at the age of eleven, Chiu's family moved to Taiwan
, because Chiu's father, Mingxian, a commissioner of the Chinese Marine Customs, was sent to recover the Taizhong Marine Customs office from Japanese occupation
. Chiu went on to earn his B.A. and M.A. in the island of beauty.
Professor Chiu was valedictorian of his graduating class at National Chengchi University
an honor which led to a research-assistantship at the University of Iowa
, Iowa City, Iowa
. At the university, Chiu completed work towards a Ph.D. In 1970 he started teaching at Hofstra University
, located on Long Island
, New York
. During his tenure at Hofstra University
Chiu held the positions of Professor of Comparative Literature and Languages, Dean of University Advisement, and Director of Asian Studies.
By knocking at China's door in the summer of 1980 Professor Chiu led the first group of U.S. university students (from across the United States) to visit modern China
. These American youth (some of Chinese
ancestry) were the first foreigners in modern China to study the Chinese language and culture at East China University in Shanghai
. (This program continues to flourish and is the model for many widely available similar programs existing today.) In his efforts at promoting cross-cultural ties, Professor Chiu was active in arranging exchanges of Sino-American
professors and students, a major accomplishment of his education programs during the 1980s and 1990s. Chiu was a key contributor in arranging the first business contracts signed between the U.S. and Chinese organizations, the Hofstra Corporation (a conglomerate of Long Island
area leading technology companies) and the China Association of Science and Technology in 1985, a time when China
had just begun to welcome in the Western world.
While in New York, Professor Chiu also taught for over 10 years at New York University
and at the Chinese Center on Long Island. He retired from Hofstra University
in the summer of 2001 after thirty-one years of contribution to the university and the Long Island
community.
Professor Chiu received a citation and the University Distinguished Service Medal in May 2001 from Hofstra University
. Here is a quotation from his citation:
"With deep appreciation for more than a quarter of a century of inspirational service to Hofstra University
. Your devotion to the progress of Hofstra
contributed substantially to its development from a small liberal arts college to a major regional and national institution of higher learning." (Signed by President James M. Shuart
, May 2001)
David J. Chiu, 69, died March 26, 2006, at his home in San Jose, CA from complications due to colorectal cancer
.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
leader in education, serving as both Professor and Dean at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
from 1970 to 2001 when he retired.
During 1936, Professor David J. Chiu was born on July 11, in Gulangyu
Gulangyu Island
Gulangyu "Drum Wave Islet" is a car free island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province in southern China, about in area. It is home to about 20,000 people and is a very popular tourist destination....
, a westernized Island-city in southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to Minxian and Juyin Chiu. At the time, Gulangyu was the location of the consulate offices of the Western countries in China. Soon after Chiu's birth, the family moved to Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao is a port city in northeastern Hebei province of North China. It is about 300 km east of Beijing, on the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea....
in northern China, the starting point of the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
. In 1947 at the age of eleven, Chiu's family moved to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, because Chiu's father, Mingxian, a commissioner of the Chinese Marine Customs, was sent to recover the Taizhong Marine Customs office from Japanese occupation
Taiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
. Chiu went on to earn his B.A. and M.A. in the island of beauty.
Professor Chiu was valedictorian of his graduating class at National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University
National Chengchi University is a prestigious public university at Muzha in Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan. It is well-known for its concentration on the social sciences, law, commerce, communication, liberal arts and for its MBA programs....
an honor which led to a research-assistantship at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. At the university, Chiu completed work towards a Ph.D. In 1970 he started teaching at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
, located on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. During his tenure at Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
Chiu held the positions of Professor of Comparative Literature and Languages, Dean of University Advisement, and Director of Asian Studies.
By knocking at China's door in the summer of 1980 Professor Chiu led the first group of U.S. university students (from across the United States) to visit modern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. These American youth (some of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
ancestry) were the first foreigners in modern China to study the Chinese language and culture at East China University in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. (This program continues to flourish and is the model for many widely available similar programs existing today.) In his efforts at promoting cross-cultural ties, Professor Chiu was active in arranging exchanges of Sino-American
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
professors and students, a major accomplishment of his education programs during the 1980s and 1990s. Chiu was a key contributor in arranging the first business contracts signed between the U.S. and Chinese organizations, the Hofstra Corporation (a conglomerate of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
area leading technology companies) and the China Association of Science and Technology in 1985, a time when China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
had just begun to welcome in the Western world.
While in New York, Professor Chiu also taught for over 10 years at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and at the Chinese Center on Long Island. He retired from Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in the summer of 2001 after thirty-one years of contribution to the university and the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
community.
Professor Chiu received a citation and the University Distinguished Service Medal in May 2001 from Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
. Here is a quotation from his citation:
"With deep appreciation for more than a quarter of a century of inspirational service to Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
. Your devotion to the progress of Hofstra
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
contributed substantially to its development from a small liberal arts college to a major regional and national institution of higher learning." (Signed by President James M. Shuart
James M. Shuart
James M. Shuart was the president of Hofstra University from 1976 to 2001. Prior to that he served as a Nassau County official. Also, he served as Assistant President to Hofstra President Clifford Lord during the 1960s in addition to serving as an administrator in the division and then school of...
, May 2001)
David J. Chiu, 69, died March 26, 2006, at his home in San Jose, CA from complications due to colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
.