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Chair of the Board; Professor Emeritus, BENG; Faculty-Emeritus, IEM
Professor Shu Chien is a pioneering bioengineer whose research has advanced understanding of how blood flow and mechanical forces influence cardiovascular health and disease. At UC San Diego, he served as Founding Chair of the Department of Bioengineering and Founding Director of the Institute of Engineering in Medicine, helping build a leading program in the field. His interdisciplinary work spans biomechanics, vascular biology, and bioengineering, contributing to new approaches for treating conditions such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. A recipient of the U.S. National Medal of Science, he is widely recognized for his leadership and lasting impact on biomedical engineering.
Advisory Committee
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Vice Chair of the Board; Professor Emeritus, Psychiatry
Professor Ming Tsuang was a distinguished psychiatrist and global leader in behavioral genomics and psychiatric genetics. At UC San Diego, he served as Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Director of the Center for Behavioral Genomics, and Behavioral Genomics Endowed Chair. He previously held senior leadership roles at Harvard Medical School, including Chair of Psychiatry. His research advanced understanding of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse, with a focus on genetic and environmental risk factors and early prevention. An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and Academician of Academia Sinica, he authored over 600 publications and received numerous honors for his contributions to psychiatric research.
－The Center for Taiwan Studies at UC San Diego mourns the passing of Professor Ming Tsuang (1930–2026), Vice Chair of our Advisory Board, on March 18. Professor Tsuang, who taught a groundbreaking course on psychiatric genetics at Harvard Medical School, was instrumental in the founding of Taiwan Studies at UCSD, particularly through initiating the Chuan Lyu Endowment. His vision, generosity, and dedication to scholarship and cross-cultural understanding profoundly shaped our Center. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and students, honoring his enduring legacy in expanding the horizons of psychiatry and Taiwan Studies.－
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Board Member; Professor Emeritus, Sociology
Professor Richard Madsen is an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at UC San Diego and former Director of the UC Fudan Center on Contemporary China. A distinguished scholar of culture, religion, and Chinese society, his work spans comparative sociology and moral anthropology. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University and has been a key figure in advancing the study of Chinese religion and society, as well as U.S.–China relations. Author of numerous influential books and essays, his research explores the intersection of culture, ethics, and social change, contributing significantly to global sociological scholarship.
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Board Member; Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and Chinese Studies & Academic Senate Distinguished Teacher
Professor Paul G. Pickowicz is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and Chinese Studies at UC San Diego and a leading scholar of modern China. His research spans Chinese social and cultural history, with particular emphasis on rural society and film. He is the author and editor of more than 20 books, including Chinese Village, Socialist State, which received the Association for Asian Studies’ Joseph Levenson Prize, and China on Film. An award-winning teacher, he has received multiple UC San Diego teaching honors and was recognized with the Humboldt Research Award for lifetime scholarly achievement.
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Board Member; Emeritus Professor, Anthropology
Professor David K. Jordan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at UC San Diego and a renowned scholar of Chinese society, religion, and folklore. His interdisciplinary research explores moral experience, ethics, and popular religion in contemporary China, Taiwan, and among Chinese diasporas. He is the author of influential works including Gods, Ghosts, and Ancestors and Initiates of Fortune, and has contributed extensively to understanding Chinese cultural practices and social life. A dedicated teacher and mentor, Professor Jordan’s work bridges anthropology and Asian studies, shaping scholarly perspectives on religion and culture in East Asia.