When Hsiao-Ping Moore, PhD, arrived at Lawrence Technological University almost two decades ago to serve as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CoAS), she was a game-changing force from day one.
A Well-Connected Leader
Moore brought two decades of experience as a researcher and professor of molecular biology at UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, she moved in circles with the world’s foremost science and medical experts and knew Nobel laureates by name.
“She was amazingly well-connected,” said Glen Bauer, associate dean in CoAS. “Those connections allowed her to get information and connect with the right people at the right time.”
That network, combined with her vision, helped LTU secure multiple million-dollar grants, transforming the university’s mission of providing an innovative, hands-on education. Most notably, it was a “David vs. Goliath” moment when LTU was awarded the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant in 2017—LTU was one of only 24 schools in the nation and the only institution in Michigan to receive the award that year.
The impact was substantive. The grant allowed CoAS to bake course-based research experience (CRE) directly into the curriculum. As Bauer notes, the goal was to make science education achievable and attainable to a broader population of students, rather than limited to a select few. “It was about inclusive excellence,” Bauer added.
Building the Future of Science at LTU
But Moore’s vision wasn’t just academic; it was also physical. She was instrumental in securing a million-dollar grant from the National Science Foundation, which allowed her to direct a total overhaul of the university’s science labs. If the Science Building feels modern and vibrant today, it’s because of her.
“She had a knack for seeing what could be,” Bauer explained, reflecting on her attention to everything from the lab layouts to interior colors and the dean’s office. “She was the catalyst for getting that done and finding the money to do it.”
Moore was also the spark that led to the 2023 addition of LTU’s fifth college: the College of Health Sciences (CoHS). With a background in disease management research, she wrote one of the earliest proposals for LTU’s nursing program, which welcomed its first cohort in 2017 as part of CoAS; the program now resides in the CoHS along with the physician assistant and cardiovascular perfusion programs.
A Legacy of Kindness and Trust
Beyond the grants and the buildings, it was Moore’s character that left the deepest mark. “People trusted her implicitly,” Bauer said. “She was very gentle and very, very compassionate about people. She was also extremely smart and just unbelievably insightful.”
Even her leadership approach was inclusive. Before retiring in 2018, she worked with university leadership to develop awards for employees whose talents went under the radar. “It [was] indicative of the way she [thought],” Bauer noted. “She wanted to honor, recognize, and encourage people who otherwise might not get noticed.”
As Bauer simply said: “She was absolutely the most transformative dean we’ve ever had.”
Join us in honoring Hsiao-Ping Moore
We invite you to join us as we present Moore with the Dr. Richard Lundstrom Luminary Award at LTU’s 3rd Annual Scholarship Gala. It’s a night to celebrate the legacy she built and to ensure the “inclusive excellence” she championed continues for generations of students to come.
- When: May 16
- Where: The Department at Hudson’s, Detroit
- The Evening: Cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and networking in one of Detroit’s most iconic new venues
Tickets and Sponsorships: ltu.edu/thegala
By Pam Houghton
