China, Taiwan: Lucie Cheng

We believe that the science of learning covers both science and learning.

— Lucie Cheng

Lucie Cheng is publisher of both Li Newspaper and Pots, dean of the College of Journalism and Communications at Shixin University, president of Bibliography Literature Publishing Inc, and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She served Chinese workers in Chinatown in the USA before she returned to Taiwan to inherit the Li Newspaper from her father. She opened the Social Development Research Institute at Shixin University and has promoted a series of alternative multimedia courses. She has been active in social and women’s movements for 30 years.

Lucie Cheng was born in Hong Kong in 1939. She is one of the daughters of Cheng Shewo, a famous journalist and writer. She received her education in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In 1958, she went to the USA and obtained the master’s degree in literature and journalism. Later, she received the doctorate degree of social science from the University of Hawaii. For the past 30 years, she has incorporated the science of learning into social movements and education. Cheng served Chinese workers in Chinatown in the USA in her early life. As a scholar, she insists that research should be combined with community work. As such, she pays attention to long-neglected minority groups like the Chinese living in the USA, especially Chinese women. Her research on Chinese women in the USA in 1979 led to many academics taking up the study of overseas Chinese women. In 1990, Cheng returned to Taiwan and inherited the Li Newspaper from her father, and the challenge to maintain the newspaper's principle of caring for vulnerable groups. She also took over the College of Journalism and Communications (later part of Shixin University) to train journalists for Taiwan. She opened the Social Development Research Institute at Shixin University and has promoted a series of alternative multimedia courses on cross-discipline and cross-religion. Cheng’s recent research has focused on pornography in Taiwan and she has been working with other scholars and sex workers for the latter’s rights. She has also drawn attention to sex industry policies and to the contribution of sex workers to the economy.

College of Journalism and Communications at Shixin University