Rose Tseng is the first Asian American female university president in the United States. On Friday, June 21, she shared her educational journey and discussed how to provide the best education for children within the American higher education system at the Mom Classroom in the South Bay, San Francisco Bay Area.
Rose Tseng, with a Ph.D. in Nutritional Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, has served as the Chancellor of Hawaii University at Hilo, President of West Valley and Mission Community College in California, and Dean and Professor of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts at San Jose State University.
In addition, she has held positions such as Chief Consultant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Visiting Professor at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. Her leadership skills have been widely recognized, earning her several prestigious accolades including awards from the White House, the House of Representatives, the California State Assembly’s “Struggle Award,” and the Outstanding Young Women of America award.
During her 23 years of service at San Jose State University (1970-1993), Dr. Rose Tseng progressed from part-time to full-time professor, department chair, and finally, Dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts (now known as the College of Health and Human Sciences).
As Dean, she advocated for every department in the college to arrange internships for students in businesses, aiming to enhance the connection between academic education and the community and industry, fostering close collaboration between the university and the business sector and achieving positive educational and societal outcomes.
From 1993 to 1998, Dr. Rose Tseng faced the challenge of budget cuts totaling $5 million while serving as the Chancellor of the West Valley and Mission Community College District. As Chancellor, she had to balance the budget and ensure financial solvency. Through her relentless efforts, she successfully completed a lease of 53 acres of land, generating significant revenue for the district.
In 1998, Dr. Rose Tseng left Silicon Valley and moved to Hawaii, where she spent 15 years, serving as Chancellor of Hawaii University at Hilo for 12 years. Under her leadership, the university established three new colleges, including a School of Pharmacy, added 10 bachelor’s degrees, 6 master’s degrees, and 2 doctoral degree programs. External funding increased sixfold from $3 million in 1998 to $20 million in 2010. The university constructed 10 major buildings, including the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, and received grants from the National Science Foundation for community needs research.
Dr. Rose Tseng stated that American higher education, including public universities, private universities, community colleges, and for-profit community colleges, each offer different learning environments and focuses, thus finding the right university is key in choosing one’s institution of higher learning.
She analyzed that aiming for entry into a top-tier university is suitable for those prioritizing academic achievement, while pursuing a balanced and diverse education may lead one to completing a four-year college education. Additionally, students can choose to begin at a community college before transferring to a four-year university (2+2 model).
She emphasized that during her five-year tenure as Chancellor of West Valley and Mission Community College District, she recognized the high quality of foundational courses provided by community colleges, noting that students’ academic performance was not compromised upon transferring to systems like the University of California. This instructional model not only saves on tuition fees but also offers more choices for students before deciding on their major.
Drawing from her years of educational experience, Dr. Rose Tseng highlighted that students’ intrinsic motivation to learn is crucial for educational success. Success in life does not solely rely on attending Ivy League institutions. She cited examples such as NVIDIA’s founder, who graduated from Oregon State University, and the current CEO of Apple, who graduated from Auburn University in Alabama.
She believed that education should not be solely about pursuing excellence, pushing children to the brink of madness. The current overly competitive educational environment leads even the most outstanding students to feel inadequate, resulting in a mental health crisis.
Citing statistics, she mentioned that from 2009 to 2019, the number of high school students who seriously considered suicide increased by 36%. Research also indicates that over 60% of college students experience mental health issues, with 75% reporting moderate to severe psychological stress. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that student stress has led to an increase in substance abuse.
She emphasized the importance of not placing excessive pressure on children, not using grades as the only measure of success, avoiding exposure to drugs, and avoiding the notion that failure to attend a top-tier university equates to failure. Parents should pay attention to their children’s classmates and friends, encourage participation in extracurricular activities including sports, music, and cultural activities, provide a supportive learning environment, promote community service, and offer children a diverse education.