A LIFETIME OF INNOVATION

By Josh Duke

Yun-Hwa Peggy Hsieh is a name well-known in Florida State University’s Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, even though she retired almost a decade ago. Her impact on her field, her kindness and mentorship, and her passion for food science established her as a modern-day legend to many faculty and students. Recently, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anne’s College Distinguished Alumni Awards, a recognition bestowed only a few times throughout the history of the College.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is only the latest accolade for Hsieh. Reflecting back on her career reveals the depth and breadth of her accomplishments. “Though Dr. Hsieh has had an amazing career as a food science scholar and is truly in the top 1% of her profession, what impresses me the most is not just what she did, but how she did it,” said Anne’s College Dean Damon Andrew. “She is the consummate servant leader, and her actions in research, teaching and service have always been focused on transforming the lives of others through enhancing quality of life.”

THE CAREER THAT ALMOST WASN’T

Despite her talents and research prowess, Hsieh always prioritized her family life. Her husband, Ping Hsieh, reflected on her dedication to her role as a wife and mother. “I asked her, ‘what is your expected role in our marriage in the future?’ She said that she wanted to be a good wife and, if we had children, to be a good mother. Then, I asked, ‘how about your career?’ She said family will be her priority.” When Ping was offered his job, Peggy declined an offer from the dean of Rutgers Medical School to focus on starting a family.

Twelve years later, when Ping and Peggy’s two daughters were in school, Hsieh felt the calling to continue her education. Picking up where she left off, she became a Ph.D. student at Florida State University. She excelled in her coursework, and upon graduation, she was offered an assistant professorship at Auburn University. Her age, however, made her question whether or not she should accept the offer.

Ultimately, she decided to start this new chapter in her life, and the world benefited from that decision. Hsieh pioneered monoclonal antibody usage in food safety problems, with one of her most important applications designed to curb the spread of Mad Cow Disease. In fact, this treatment is still the standard in Europe and Japan. With such accomplishments under her belt, Hsieh rose through the ranks of professor: within four years, she became an associate professor, and shortly thereafter, she became a full professor.

Florida State Legacy

Peggy returned to Florida State University at a very different stage of her career. After 10 years of being a full professor at Auburn, Hsieh joined FSU as the Betty M. Watts Endowed Professor in what was then known as the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences. Hsieh credits former faculty member Dr. Natholyn Harris for her return to FSU. “Dr. Harris shaped not only my academic pursuits, but also my approach to life,” said Hsieh. Soon, she was elected to be a fellow of the Inter national Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST) and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). She also received numerous awards from FSU, including the Faculty Excellence Award, Graduate Mentor Award, and multiple Innovator Awards.

While she earned accolades, both domestic and international, her physical condition forced her to slow down. Despite being at the height of her career professionally, Hsieh retired in 2016 due to a health issue. “Peggy said to me that she still has a lot to do with her research,” Ping Hsieh recalled. “I comforted her by saying, ‘Let your students pick up and continue your work. You have already laid the foundation.’”

One of those students — in fact, her very first graduate student — was Qinchun Rao. Rao flourished under Hsieh’s guidance, and he credits Hsieh for instilling the virtues of humility and hard work. “Her mentorship was instrumental in my academic achievements, including obtaining both a master’s and a Ph.D. under her guidance,” said Rao.

Rao became an assistant professor at FSU 11 years after meeting his mentor, and just this semester, he earned the same endowed professorship she held during her career at FSU, becoming the newest Betty M. Watts Endowed Professor at Anne’s College. To this day, Rao credits Hsieh’s accomplishments for putting FSU on the map for food sciences. “She significantly elevated FSU’s academic standing on a global scale through her innovative leadership and tireless support of education,” he said. “I am deeply grateful for the invaluable guidance and support she provided throughout my career. Her spirit and teachings will continue to inspire future generations.”

Lifetime Achievement

Ping and Peggy Hsieh retired to Westminster Oaks Retirement Center in Tallahassee. She remains active, volunteering her knowledge and offering food and nutrition advice to other residents. Ping said that she was shocked when she learned about her Lifetime Achievement Award from Anne’s College. “She asked me, ‘Do I deserve this honor? I think many others deserve this more than I do.’ I am not a professional in her field, and I don’t know what her professional peers think about her, but in my humble, non-professional opinion, I think she deserved this honor!” Ping said with a laugh.

Dean Andrew agrees. He recalled meeting her in 2003, when he was the full-time academic advisor in the department. “I remember her then much as I know her now. She was very clearly a talented scholar who cared deeply about mentoring her students. She was soft-spoken, but when she did speak, her words always had such meaning and impact.”

On top of her incredible professional achievements, which tally 87 peer-reviewed journal articles, 11 patents, 12 licensed technologies, and more than 80 speaker invitations to conferences around the world, Hsieh established the Pao-Sen Chi Memorial Scholarship Endowment and the Yun-Hwa P. Hsieh Innovation and Research Excellence Endowment, which have directly supported more than 100 students.

Her service to the College continues, as she serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council. She was also actively involved in the alumni board at the former College of Health and Human Sciences. “Serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council keeps me connected to the college I love,” said Hsieh. She is excited at the direction of the college under the leadership of Dean Andrew. “It is inspiring to see how [Andrew’s] efforts have propelled the college toward even greater heights.”

The Anne’s College Lifetime Achievement Award cannot be applied for; it is only bestowed on individuals who have made a significant contribution to their field. Looking at the extent of Peggy Hsieh’s career, it is clear that she deserves such an honor, despite her humble protestations. Beyond her personal achievements and ground-breaking research, her nurturing personality and mentorship to countless others ensure that her impact will be felt for years and years to come.

“I am truly blessed to witness the remarkable growth of my department, college, and the university as a whole,” said Hsieh.

Learn more about the impact of Yun-Hwa Peggy Hsieh in our feature video at bit.ly/FSUPeggyTorch ∎