A native of Chengdu of Sichuan province in China, Jean Lau moved to Huntsville, Ala. in 1991. She studied Chinese at Sichuan University, and after her arrival in the U.S.earned a degree inaccounting from Athens State University and a master’s degree in biostatistics at Middle Tennessee State University. In 1994, she moved to Chattanooga, where her husband, Daniel, had been offered a job.

After a few years at home with her children, Jean took a position as a survey research analyst in the Medical Informatics division of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. She also taught Chinese—part-time at the Chattanooga Chinese School for more than ten years and in the after-school program at Bright School for two. Jean’s mother taught Chinese to middle school students for 30 years, and the combination of her mother’s example and Jean’s passion for the Chinese language inspired Jean to quit her job as an analyst and pursue a career in teaching.

Jean heard about the opening at Baylor through Chinese teacher Grace Xiong, and she is pleased to be on the school’s faculty. Jean appreciates “the dynamic environment on Baylor campus” as well as “the learning opportunities offered to teachers which engage them in the continuous challenging, thinking, assessing and learning process.”

Jean and Daniel have three children, a son, Jonathan, and daughters, Christine '14 and Elisabeth '21. Jean enjoys walking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Appointed 2010

Written by Rachel Schulson, 2010