[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF DR. JANE CHU OF THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE 
                            PERFORMING ARTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Dr. Jane Chu, 
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Kauffman Center for the 
Performing Arts, located in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, 
which I am proud to represent. The promotion of creativity through 
artistic endeavor that leads to innovation and exposure to the arts has 
been Jane Chu's personal and professional persona. In Kansas City, this 
self-proclaimed workaholic has earned the reputation for stimulating 
change through a multitude of artistic disciplines, philanthropy and 
professional management skills. She helped to reinvigorate our historic 
Union Station as the Vice President of External Relations. 
Additionally, she served as Vice President of Community Investment for 
the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and as Trustee for William 
Jewell College.
  Her professional imprint and legacy on Kansas City can best be found 
through her work since 2006 as President and CEO of the prestigious 
Kauffman Center. The $413 million center was designed by renowned 
architect Moshe Safdie. The magnificent structure houses two state of 
the art theaters, the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Theatre and Helzberg 
Hall. Since its grand opening in September 2011, more than 1 million 
people have attended events at the Kauffman Center. The center has 
elevated Kansas City's stature due in large part to Dr. Chu's ability 
to work internationally, nationally and locally to bring programing and 
funding to our community.
  With programing for every genre of music, opera, theater and dance, 
the Kauffman Center is truly a place for artistic discovery. Audiences 
soon become absorbed in performances that can impact the spirit, 
elevate the imagination, entertain and stimulate thought. She has 
engaged the community and stressed the educational rewards that stem 
from exposure to art. And it is all happening in the heartland, in 
Kansas City.
  Dr. Chu was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, but was raised in Arkadelphia, 
Arkansas, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Learning both English and 
Mandarin at home, she used music as an outlet and means to cultural 
assimilation. No doubt reflective of growing up in academia, her 
father, Dr. Finley Chu, Chairman of Ouachita Baptist University 
Economics and Business Departments, encouraged her to always keep 
learning. Her mother, Rosemary ``Mom'' Chu, demonstrated amazing 
strength through her own perilous journey as a teenager to escape 
communist China. Serving as an inspiration, Rosemary has the honor of 
having the Mom Chu House in Gosser Hall at Ouachita bear her name.
  In 1979, Dr. Chu received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance 
and a Bachelor in Music Education from Ouachita Baptist University. She 
would augment her education with Masters Degrees in Music and Piano 
Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, a MBA from Rockhurst 
University and a Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana 
University. In addition, she can proudly boast of an Honorary Doctorate 
in Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of 
Music and Dance.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in expressing 
our appreciation to Dr. Jane Chu for her continued contributions to our 
country's artistic culture. As she continues her work to bring 
communities together through music and art, she inspires the next 
generation of artists. Dr. Chu has enriched the lives of many in Kansas 
City and around our country, making her truly deserving of our 
recognition and gratitude.

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