I was born and raised in Shenyang, People's Republic of China. I grew up during the Cultural Revolution living Mao's motto of "self-reliance in the hard struggle".

After graduating from Dalian University of Technology, I went to teach "Heat Transfer" at Shenyang Polytechnic University. During that time I met a number of American and British teachers living in China and teaching English at local Universities.  In a seminal turning point in my life, I met Polly Amrein, a retired teacher from Northern California who was living in Shenyang.  Polly literally became my American Mother.  She encouraged me and supported my quest to attend graduate school in America.

I studied mechanical engineering, initially at University of Cincinnati, where my good fortune continued when I was invited to live with the Westheimers, an established Cincinnati family.  After one year in Ohio, Professor Richard Lyon of MIT encouraged me to move to Cambridge and study under him.

While earning my Master's degree at MIT, I met the love of my life, Patrick.  We now make our home outside Boston where we raise our two young sons, John and Thomas.  Click here to see some of their work.

I now dedicate all my spare time to painting.  Click here to see my online gallery.  I hope you enjoy the works on my site.  Feel free to contact me, I'd love to hear from you.

Lan Liu Griffin, February 2007

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This site was last updated 02/27/07