Jefferson, also a Congregational-founded mission high school like Grinnell-in-China, was considered part of the same Tianjin diocese as were Bowen School (formerly Grinnell-in-China) in Dezhou, Shandong, Shantung Christian University in Jinan, Shandong, and Yen Ching University in Beijing. It is likely that Tseng heard about Grinnell through this association. Furthermore, in the list of alumni published by the Tsing Hua Association in Taiwan in 1948 he was listed as having attended Tsing Hua in 1929, although he had not reported this as part of his educational background. 

Tseng was highly active and visible at Grinnell. He joined the Cosmopolitan Club on campus as soon as he arrived and gave a series of talks on campus, sometimes alongside Yuan-hsin Wang. His topics ranged from Chinese history, politics, and missionary movement in China to Chinese marriage and divorce customs. As a Christian, he also engaged with Grinnell’s local churches, giving speeches four Sundays in a row at the local Baptist church in October 1928 (SB 10/06/1928), for example. He was also reported to have played a Chinese instrument for the annual International Tea held on campus in 1928 (SB 05/12/1928). He was elected the First Vice-President of the Chinese Students’ Christian Association in 1930 in recognition of his service (SB 12/03/1930). 

Tseng was a stellar student. As an undergraduate majoring in chemistry, he attended research conferences alongside Grinnell professors, was voted into the Iowa Science Academy, and in 1931 earned membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. His scholarship gained him an offer for a research assistantship from the University of Iowa and a scholarship to attend Oberlin. After he graduated from Grinnell with a bachelor’s degree in 1931, Tseng decided to attend Oberlin where in 1932 he earned a master’s degree in chemistry, followed by a Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1934. He then took an appointment at the University of Shanghai 滬江大學 as a chemistry instructor. Tseng actively presented at the annual conferences of the Chinese Chemistry Association and in the 1940s published at least a book on analytical methods in industrial chemistry, consistent with his academic pursuit.  

During the Second Sino-Japanese War Tseng worked for the Nationalist government and was appointed head of the Chemistry Group of the Material Section of the Wartime Production Bureau in 1945 (TKP 01/30/1945).  He went to Taiwan to work for the state-owned Taiwan Sugar Company in 1947, serving as Director of Warehouses in Taipei while continuing to publish scientific and technical articles in the company’s journals. His name appeared as part of the files of the Resources Committee in Taiwan in April 1952 (Ziyuan Weiyuanhui).  

Tseng returned to the U.S. in 1972, via Honolulu, and passed away in Los Angeles in 1986.