SVSU PROFILE
cheng-ching and charles liu International Influences at SVSU
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spiring to make a difference in students’ lives, International Student Advisor Charlie Liu and his wife, Assistant Professor of Nursing Cheng-Ching Liu, share their cultural and professional experiences with SVSU students. “We were drawn to the university because the focus is on teaching and fostering faculty-student relationships which generate academic success,” Charlie points out, “and those values are important to us.” When he was in the fifth grade, Charlie came to the U.S. from Taiwan. His large family emphasized teamwork and active learning, and Charlie served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. He later earned his law degree from the Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Fla. Cheng-Ching, on the other hand, came to the United States as an adult; she would not meet her husband until 2008. “I grew up in Taiwan,” she reflects, “and was successful there. I always wanted to improve people’s lives when I grew up but I didn’t expect it to be through teaching,” Cheng-Ching admits. “I love helping people; that’s why I was [initially] drawn to nursing.” Having earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, she was working at a VA
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hospital. “I worked day and night shifts quite often. My father suggested I teach nursing to others so I could influence more than just several people at a time.” As a result, Cheng-Ching decided to move to the United States to pursue her graduate studies and completed her doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2006. After returning to Taiwan and teaching at a medical university for a few years, she visited the U.S., where she met Charlie through church friends in Ann Arbor. Now, with almost five years of married life together, they have two children: Jonathan, age 2, and Joanna, who is a one year old. Charlie and Cheng-Ching both joined SVSU in fall 2011. Charlie works with SVSU’s growing population of international students and also teaches Mandarin Chinese. “I try to find a common ground to help relate to students. It’s important for them to find a sense of community on and off campus.” Drawing on his prior experiences as a team member in the military, a legal representative for the underprivileged and a youth advisor at his church, Charlie helps students build connections with other students from diverse backgrounds. “What’s most rewarding about being an international student advisor is the chance to make a positive impact on students’ academic success as well as
enhance their cultural experience while at SVSU.” Working in higher education suits the couple well. With her previous experience of being an international student in America and with her background in geriatric care, ChengChing notes that cultural differences can be overcome by focusing on universals: “It’s great to be able to share familiar things,” she says, and look beyond initial differences. “In Taiwan, students study all day; that’s their responsibility. In America, students are very confident and independent. But communication, methods of care, chronic diseases and possible complications are all things found in elderly patients regardless of the country. I just want to help students feel more comfortable with those realities by the time they leave the classroom.” Despite the different paths that led them here, Charlie and Cheng-Ching Liu couldn’t be happier to be part of the SVSU family. “It’s a nurturing, caring environment,” Charlie says. With all of her extended family still in Taiwan, Cheng-Ching says, “I love my department, everyone. They’ve been so helpful and welcoming that it makes SVSU a great place to be.”