The honorary degree is the highest award conferred by the University of Minnesota. An honorary degree may be awarded to an individual who has achieved acknowledged eminence in cultural affairs, in public service, or in a field of knowledge and scholarship. Over the past century, the University has awarded an honorary degree to 11 recipients from Greater China.
Yien-si Tsiang (1915-1998), M.S. '40, Ph.D. '42, former secretary general to president of Taiwan and Minister of Education, was regarded as architect of Taiwanese Economic Miracle. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Minnesota College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences in 1996.
Tang Peisong (1903-2001), B.A. ’28, a plant physiologist, and co-founder of the modern Chinese Plant Physiology. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Minnesota College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences in 1996.
Tu Guangchi (1920-2007) was a mineral deposit and geochemical scientist. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology in 1999, recognizing his lifelong contributions to China and the field of geochemistry.
Wei Yu (1940 - ) , one of the first academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1994. She served as the vice minister of the Ministry of Education for the People’s Republic of China from 1993 to 2002 and played a significant role in promoting China’s educational internet and long-distance education. She was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by the University’s Institute of Technology in 1998.
Lou Chenghou (1911-2009), was a famous Chinese phytophysiologist and agricultural scientist. He received a B.S. from Tsinghua University in 1932, M.S. from Lingnan College in 1934, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1939. He worked as vice president of China Agricultural University and vice chairman for China Phytophysiology Association. He was elected senior academician by the China Academy of Sciences in 1980. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the University of Minnesota’s College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences in 2001.
Jiang Zhenghua (1937 - ) was vice chairman of the 10th NPC Standing Committee and chairman of the 12th Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts and China Center in 2004.
Hwei-Hsein Cheng (1932-2021), University of Minnesota Professor Emeritus, was a national and international leader in the field of natural resource use and environmental evaluation and protection. He served as president of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society. He worked closely with the University’s China Center to organize United Nation’s Development Program projects in China. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree by the University of Minnesota’s College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences in 2004.
Fai-nan Perng (1939 - ), economist. After receiving a master’s degree in economics from the University of Minnesota in 1971, he joined the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and has served as governor since 1998. He was recognized as an Alumni of Notable Achievement in 2000, and awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in 2006, both by the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts. He was listed by Global Finance magazine as one of the “world’s top bankers” for eight years in a row.
Lu Yongxiang (1942 - ) ,has made significant contributions to the development of mechanical engineering, particularly in the field of fluid power transmission and control. He was once the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences from 1997 to 2011, and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in China. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology in 2007.
Bai Chunli (1953 - ), Chinese scientist in nanotechnology scanning tunneling microscopy research, academician, and president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering in 2011.
Chen Zhu (1953 - ), hemotologist and molecular biologist, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was also a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He was former Minister of Health and vice chairman of the 12th National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. He was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree from the China Center and the College of Science and Engineering in 2012.