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Alumni Profile

Marlene (Chan) Hui ’74: Moved by the spirit
by Wendy Elofson

In 1968, a Lutheran missionary approached Marlene (Chan) Hui, then a studious high school student living in Hong Kong, with an opportunity to attend college in the United States. The prospect of attending a U.S. college, and specifically Augsburg College, appealed to Hui. Two of her brothers were already living in the U.S., and the idea of being able to explore her faith while immersed in academia suited the 18-year-old, who attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Bata Lou. Moreover, if she remained in Hong Kong, she would face limited opportunities to attend college, due to a shortage in higher education institutions.
Though the challenge of adjusting to the highly variable weather of Minnesota was difficult (Hong Kong has a tropical climate), Hui quickly adapted to life in the U.S. and at Augsburg. She served as chair of the Foreign Student Group, and was very involved in faith-related activities.

During her first year at Augsburg, she lived with biology professor Neal Thorpe and his family. She fondly remembers going on family trips and participating in Bible studies with her host family. Although Hui lived in the dormitory her second and third years of college, she formed her longest lasting friendships with the girls she met during her senior year while living in the Lambda House. Last summer, the former residents reunited in Brainerd, Minn., for four days of reminiscing and catch-up.

Hui majored in English and elementary education and minored in French; however, her career path became clear to her during an Augsburg internship. Her first professional experience entailed working with low-income children. "We seemed to get along well, and it seemed like I could get through to them," says Hui. "It was God's plan."

Hui has been a special education teacher at Jefferson High School since 1976. She works with high school students who are considered moderately to severely mentally impaired, and she is eager to say that teaching the students is her favorite part of the job. She recently taught one of her students with Downs syndrome how to e-mail his father who lives across the country.

As for the future, Hui and her husband are contemplating an early retirement, which would allow them to pursue missionary work in Asia. "Retirement doesn't mean that I don't do anything; retirement means that I can pursue different interests, and do something new and different," says Hui.

Two years ago, Hui was asked to consider being the Class of 1974 class agent. She accepted the opportunity because she saw it as an enjoyable way to give back to the College. She enjoys relaying information about Augsburg to people, and seeing former classmates and faculty members. She is very grateful for her experience at the College. "Augsburg enriches a person religiously, spiritually, and academically."

Wendy Elofson is an information specialist for Augsburg's institutional advancement office.

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