Dr. Lee received many awards and recognitions during her career and public services. Here are some selected ones.
TNU Award 台灣師大傑出校友
Introduction included for the publication of the Outstanding Alumni Award from National Taiwan University in 2001. She did not attend the award ceremony but submitted the requested autobiography to be included in their publication.
Department: Home Economics, 56th Graduating Class
Education: National Taiwan Teacher's University Bachelor's Degree
United States University of North Illinois Master's Degree
United States Purdue University Ph. D
Experience: Professor, United States University of Houston and University of South Arkansas
Chairperson, United States DePauw University Department of Education
Current Position: Chairperson, United States DePauw University Department of Education
Specific Extraordinary Achievements:
When I was studying high school at Taipei First Girl's High School, I wanted to become a doctor and tested for B group. But God had other plans, and I entered into the Taiwan Teacher University's Home Economics department; this was a turning point in [my] life. I wanted to try again the next year, but two months into my studies I discovered that unlike popular opinion, Home Economics had classes other than cooking and sewing. As Professor Wu Zhen Shen said: "It can be used both offensively and defensively." What he meant was that in the colleges of thirty years ago, female graduates could use the knowledge they gained to advance into the job market but also choose to remain home and apply their skills there, so I decided to finish [my schooling] in this non-traditional department.
When I applied to continue my education in the States, Professor Qian Zhuo reminded me the importance of "interests", and not select professions that I don't like just to chase after the trend. Thanks to Professor Qian's advice, in these thirty years I've only picked jobs that I loved. Beginning with childhood development and family relationships, and then because of the requirements of teaching I expanded into research and writing, but basically I kept these two areas as the foundation.
It was no easy task to survive in the foreign land of America, especially as a young woman thirty years ago who was experiencing a shift in the role of women in both the family and society. At the time, working women were asked to be superhuman, acting in both the roles of an excellent professional and a traditional perfect housewife. Thanks to the training and development from TTU's Home Economics Department, I was able to take care of both home and work for thirty years.
The courses I learned helped me to use my time efficiently, manage chores, raise excellent children, and helped me stand up to God's testing amidst the stresses of time, energy, and mental strain. Other classes such as etiquette, graphic design, interior decorating, fashion design and so on, all helped me participate in a foreign mainstream society and enter into America's political world. These precious life experiences helped me be able to add my mark to the history of Chinese striving [to make their way] in America. I also made many first steps, opened many doors, and became the example for others to participate in politics. All of this spirit of inauguration and being the vanguard was thanks to the four years of training I received at TTU.
What makes me feel most proud [of myself] was being a representative of congress from 1987 to 1990, and being on the Chinese-American Illegal Immigrant and Economic Development Cooperative [committees]. This ten member committee and group of world leaders allowed me to experience high level international diplomatic talks, courteous receptions and protection worthy of an emperor, including riding a helicopter to the edge of Honduras and meet its leader in the Nicaragua guerilla [warfare] zone. Naturally, it was also very challenging to have been named by then president Bush to serve on the Fulbright Scholarship board of trustees and Vice-chairman of the Department of education, as well as having been named to the Texas Parole and Amnesty boards by the governor of Texas. The other thirty-odd political positions all helped me grow, develop, and give [of myself] in many aspects as well, including the editorials I wrote for the World Journal. The awards I received—the the American Outstanding Young Woman award in 1978 and the American Presidential Accomplishment Award from then president Reagan in 1982 gave me deep appreciation for the cultivation I was given at TTU.
In these past thirty or so years of writing and giving speeches, I emphasize that Eastern and Western cultures should combine and complement each other, especially [in the area of] family ethics. My own family was influenced by Christianity since I was young, and father told us to be a lamp in the [dark] corners. Now, though I have left my homeland and am living overseas, I can continue to be a lamp in this little corner, like the faithful servant of the Bible, using my wisdom to create the best effect. Though I often face prejudice in America, but Bible [characters] such as Daniel and Ester (my namesake) give me constant inspiration and encouragement, so that today I can continue to welcome the future with open arms and faith, just as the name my parents gave me.
Department: Home Economics, 56th Graduating Class
Education: National Taiwan Teacher's University Bachelor's Degree
United States University of North Illinois Master's Degree
United States Purdue University Ph. D
Experience: Professor, United States University of Houston and University of South Arkansas
Chairperson, United States DePauw University Department of Education
Current Position: Chairperson, United States DePauw University Department of Education
Specific Extraordinary Achievements:
- Professor Lee had taught at the University of Houston for 17 years and is currently the chairperson of DePauw University's Department of Education. In addition to her work teaching in American colleges, she has also taught children's education and developed classes in psychology and human development, as well as served in different important positions. In recent years, because of her rich experience, she has settled into even higher level planning and course evaluation work. It can be seen that Dr. Lee's unique thinking and problem solving abilities as well as her vision of future developments have received significant acknowledgement and use.
- Professor Lee has been the chairman of the United States America-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the chairman of the Foundation for National Political Leadership, and a member of the committee of national policy, and often accepts invitations to visit, teach, and give speeches all over the world.
- Professor Lee has received several awards, including: the American Outstanding Young Woman award in 1978, the American Presidential Accomplishment Award from President Reagan in 1982, and represented Texas at the Republican National Convention in 1984 and 1992. In 1987 and 1990 she was appointed by Congress to be a member of the International Immigration and Economic Cooperative Development committees, and then was named by President George Bush to be the vice chairman of the Board of Education and the director of the Fulbright Scholarship. In 1991 she won support of the Republican party to run for a seat in Congress, leading the way for Chinese-Americans to participate in politics, and raising the place of all American-Chinese. In 1992 she accepted the invitation of President Push to be the leader of the Asian-American immigrants at his campaign headquarters, becoming the party's highest position regarding [that electorate].
- Other positions [that Professor Lee has served in] include memberships on the American Bilingual Education Consultation Group and the Houston Police Department Commission Board, as Vice-President of the United States American-Chinese Women's Association, and has greatly encouraged [other] Chinese-Americans to participate in politics via the Washington D.C. established American Political Leader Scholarship.
When I was studying high school at Taipei First Girl's High School, I wanted to become a doctor and tested for B group. But God had other plans, and I entered into the Taiwan Teacher University's Home Economics department; this was a turning point in [my] life. I wanted to try again the next year, but two months into my studies I discovered that unlike popular opinion, Home Economics had classes other than cooking and sewing. As Professor Wu Zhen Shen said: "It can be used both offensively and defensively." What he meant was that in the colleges of thirty years ago, female graduates could use the knowledge they gained to advance into the job market but also choose to remain home and apply their skills there, so I decided to finish [my schooling] in this non-traditional department.
When I applied to continue my education in the States, Professor Qian Zhuo reminded me the importance of "interests", and not select professions that I don't like just to chase after the trend. Thanks to Professor Qian's advice, in these thirty years I've only picked jobs that I loved. Beginning with childhood development and family relationships, and then because of the requirements of teaching I expanded into research and writing, but basically I kept these two areas as the foundation.
It was no easy task to survive in the foreign land of America, especially as a young woman thirty years ago who was experiencing a shift in the role of women in both the family and society. At the time, working women were asked to be superhuman, acting in both the roles of an excellent professional and a traditional perfect housewife. Thanks to the training and development from TTU's Home Economics Department, I was able to take care of both home and work for thirty years.
The courses I learned helped me to use my time efficiently, manage chores, raise excellent children, and helped me stand up to God's testing amidst the stresses of time, energy, and mental strain. Other classes such as etiquette, graphic design, interior decorating, fashion design and so on, all helped me participate in a foreign mainstream society and enter into America's political world. These precious life experiences helped me be able to add my mark to the history of Chinese striving [to make their way] in America. I also made many first steps, opened many doors, and became the example for others to participate in politics. All of this spirit of inauguration and being the vanguard was thanks to the four years of training I received at TTU.
What makes me feel most proud [of myself] was being a representative of congress from 1987 to 1990, and being on the Chinese-American Illegal Immigrant and Economic Development Cooperative [committees]. This ten member committee and group of world leaders allowed me to experience high level international diplomatic talks, courteous receptions and protection worthy of an emperor, including riding a helicopter to the edge of Honduras and meet its leader in the Nicaragua guerilla [warfare] zone. Naturally, it was also very challenging to have been named by then president Bush to serve on the Fulbright Scholarship board of trustees and Vice-chairman of the Department of education, as well as having been named to the Texas Parole and Amnesty boards by the governor of Texas. The other thirty-odd political positions all helped me grow, develop, and give [of myself] in many aspects as well, including the editorials I wrote for the World Journal. The awards I received—the the American Outstanding Young Woman award in 1978 and the American Presidential Accomplishment Award from then president Reagan in 1982 gave me deep appreciation for the cultivation I was given at TTU.
In these past thirty or so years of writing and giving speeches, I emphasize that Eastern and Western cultures should combine and complement each other, especially [in the area of] family ethics. My own family was influenced by Christianity since I was young, and father told us to be a lamp in the [dark] corners. Now, though I have left my homeland and am living overseas, I can continue to be a lamp in this little corner, like the faithful servant of the Bible, using my wisdom to create the best effect. Though I often face prejudice in America, but Bible [characters] such as Daniel and Ester (my namesake) give me constant inspiration and encouragement, so that today I can continue to welcome the future with open arms and faith, just as the name my parents gave me.
