Loreina is pursuing her joint master’s degree in education and social work with a focus on culturally-sustaining pedagogies for historically-underrepresented communities. She has initiated K-12 and higher education curricula with Indigenous communities in the U.S., Canada, Panama, New Zealand, and Taiwan. She has been invited to 25 Native American reservations across 11 states. Loreina launched a digital storytelling forum to interconnect Indigenous communities globally for cultural exchanges. She continues to learn from Indigenous Elders, collaborate with Tribal schools to enrich land-based pedagogies, and integrate traditional wisdom to infuse diversity, equity, and inclusion in her teaching roles.
Loreina taught Chinese as a Fulbright Scholar at Michigan State University from 2020 to 2022 and developed Chinese educational resources highlighting Indigenous cultures. From 2017 to 2020, Loreina worked as the International Student Affairs Coordinator at National Taiwan University in Taiwan. She organized cultural curricula for international scholars, initiated field trips to Tribal villages, and facilitated conversations between Indigenous youths and international scholars. From 2016 to 2018, she taught high school English in Taiwan featuring global cultures. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages and Literature from National Taiwan University and studied at Queen’s University in Canada, University of Mannheim in Germany, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.
Scholar Voices Feature
Loreina Hsien Inspires Students at NTU Info Session
Loreina Hsien recently led a meaningful information session for the McDonnell Academy at her alma mater, National Taiwan University, drawing 53 students from 14 colleges and 29 disciplines. Attendees expressed deep appreciation for the session, with comments such as “Your session was the most unique and empowering I’ve been to!,” “Your experience and advice have made me feel more confident in my future plans to study in the U.S. despite the high cost, and “Thank you for being a role model for us!”
After the session, Loreina, a current Master of Social Work student in the Brown School at WashU, engaged with each prospective McDonnell Scholar candidate for one-on-one career advice, leaving a lasting impression on the leadership of the Office of International Affairs. The administrative team expressed gratitude for the inspiring session and looks forward to more opportunities for collaboration.
Efforts from McDonnell Scholars like Loreina are instrumental in helping the McDonnell Academy recruit top talent from all over the world. The Academy truly appreciates her dedication and efforts in building a global network of outstanding scholars.
Loreina Hsien’s Insights on the McDonnell Academy Global Research Symposium 2023
Read Loreina’s story detailing the highlights and key takeaways from the welcome and keynote presentation of the McDonnell Academy Global Research Symposium 2023 on Oct. 5, 2023. Later, Loreina had an in-depth conversation with Prof. Yasemin İlkmen, assistant professor of clinical psychology at Boğaziçi University, following Prof. İlkmen’s research presentation at the Social Innovation panel. Together, they discussed career paths, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership. Watch the interview and highlights!
Humanity, accountability, and teamwork
by Loreina Hsien