From China to the Midwest, WMU trustee finds a home in Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO – WMU Trustee Lynn Chen-Zhang arrived in the Midwest with little money and few friends. She’d left behind her family, her roommates and a job on TV for spot at Iowa State University.    

Having grown up on the heels of the Cultural Revolution in China, Chen-Zhang's parents, who had a profound distrust of the Communist Party, encouraged her to leave. There was value, they said, to being exposed to new cultures and learning from abroad. Her mother even sold an antique watch for $500 so Chen-Zhang could have money for travel.    

“The moment the door opened, and I had the opportunity to go to the United States, they said you need to go,” she recalled recently at her office, Zhang Financial, in Portage, Mich. “It was very helpful for them to have that mentality, that there were no limitations to what girls could do.”   

In the summer of 1989, Chen-Zhang left China two months earlier than planned due to rising political tensions. She was 22 years old. 

Today, Chen-Zhang calls Kalamazoo her home. She and her husband, Charles, have donated millions of dollars to Western Michigan University and organizations throughout southwestern Michigan. They have become some of the region’s largest philanthropists, contributing to an array of community projects and causes from animal care to senior living. They fund buildings, cultural events, scholarships and essential needs.    

The two chose Western when Charles Zhang was awarded a graduate assistantship to study economics at the University. Lynn Chen-Zhang could also complete a graduate degree in accounting here. And, she says with a laugh, Kalamazoo was slightly warmer than Iowa.   

The two stayed in the area to raise their two boys and build their careers. “Everyone is so nice here,” Lynn Chen-Zhang says. “This is the place where if your car is stuck in the snow people will stop to help you, regardless of how cold it is outside. The people make the community.”  

Now, the couple strives to give back to the place that gave them so much.   

“It’s been a blessing living here, to me, to my husband, this is our home,” Lynn Chen-Zhang says. “It’s important for us to not only contribute money, but also, whenever we can, our time and expertise. It’s our community and our responsibility to make it better.”  

This weekend Chen-Zhang will emcee WMU’s Spring Gala on March 22 at Miller Auditorium. The Asian variety show celebrates the beauty of culture and champions diversity, peace and love in Kalamazoo.   

The theater doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m. Hands-on cultural activities for all ages will start at 4:30 p.m. There will also be informational booths for patrons to learn more about Kalamazoo’s international community and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.    

Through transformative events, immersive classes and experience-driven learning, Western Michigan University’s Haenicke Institute connects Kalamazoo to the world and the world to Kalamazoo.   

It assists nearly 1,500 international students and alumni with degree completion and post-graduation job training. It also supports nearly 1,000 students at partner institutions in China and Taiwan.    

From fostering academic study abroad opportunities to showcasing cultural events and providing K-12 outreach, the Haenicke Institute promotes learning that transcends borders.  

“We are all from different cultures, but underneath, we are the same," says Chen-Zhang, whose outgoing personality is a natural fit for the stage. “It’s important to remember that so other differences can be worked out.”   

Hosted by WMU’s Asian Initiatives, this year's Spring Gala promises a vibrant showcase of Asian artistry, culture and community spirit. The event will feature moving scenes from the Peking opera performed by award-winning actress Linghui Tu and actor Suosen Lv.    

There will be performances by the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra and the Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, as well as inspiring dance and fashion acts presented by the students and staff of WMU, Kalamazoo Public Schools, the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy and the India Association of Kalamazoo. Students of Comstock Early Learning Academy will retell traditional nursery rhymes in Chinese.     

“It’s truly a fascinating thing to see people who love what they do put together a celebration of culture," Chen-Zhang says. “I’m glad to be part of it. I can’t sing, I can’t dance, but I sure can talk!”