The Cornell Alumni Association of Taiwan (CAAT) enjoys a long history. It was first founded by a few well-known alumni. In 2019, a group of core alumni envisioned a formal legal entity in operation. Thus, Freda Tsai was elected to be the President to lead the course of application filing. CAAT successfully completed registration and became a legal entity in January 1, 2020. Special thanks goes to the enthusiastic sponsoring alumni and directors. After the first term, the association website and directory database have been built, and routine reporting to the government made on time. Currently, CAAT works closely with and promotes activities authorized by the Head Office in Cornell.
Freda is an alum of AAP School (Architecture, Art, and Planning). She holds a B.ARCH from Cornell and an M.AUD from Harvard. After returning to Taiwan in the 1992, she started work first as an architect in engineering consulting company, then later in the public sector, investment banking, life insurance company real estate department as senior executive. In the last part of her career, she joined Taipei 101 as General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Tower BU, leading the team to win the global green building award. After achieving this career milestone, Freda steps down to start her writing career in theology and architecture philosophy, devoting herself to academic and social services. This includes her service in the CAAT, to give back to her Alma Mater who has gifted her with a five-year scholarship in her college days.
Freda was born in Taiwan, grew up in Singapore, and went to the United States for university. She decided to return to Taiwan with her classmate-husband in the early 1992. She and her husband David Wang both served in the ROC Harvard Club as editors of Harvard Journal for many years. She has been the secretary-general of the Harvard Club, the experience of which has kindled her interest to establish a registered entity for Taiwan Cornell alumni.