[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO CHANCELLOR CHANG-LIN TIEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 1997

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a courageous and exemplary citizen, Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien. While 
there have been many educators, few have been as distinguished and 
dedicated as Chancellor Tien. Today, he will be the first recipient of 
the American Courage Award established by the National Asian Pacific 
American Legal Consortium, and I take this opportunity to add my voice 
to that of the consortium. Dr. Tien consistently exemplifies America's 
highest principles of equality, fairness, and justice and the 
consortium's award recognizes and honors an individual who has lifted 
America to her ideals of freedom and justice.
  Chancellor Tien is an outstanding educator, scientist, and 
administrator. He served as chancellor at the University of California, 
at Berkeley for 7 years, from 1990 to July 1997. The Berkeley campus 
must be one of the most challenging campuses in the world. Challenging 
not only because of its high academic performance, but challenging 
because of the mixture of students, faculty, and staff of the Berkeley 
campus. In the context of one of the most politically active 
communities in the United States, all of this combines to provide one 
of the more dynamic and sometimes, volatile, communities.
  This politically sophisticated group considered him an exceptionally 
effective, competent and charming chancellor; a very rare 
accomplishment and one deserving of special recognition. One instance 
of his courage and leadership is in his highly vocal and visible 
opposition to the University of California's Board of Regents' 
abandonment of affirmative action policies of the university students, 
staff, and faculty.
  Chancellor Tien was particularly sensitive to the needs of the city 
of Berkeley in which the university plays such a prominent and 
essential role. He executed with brilliance, grace, dignity, and 
effectiveness, the high profile position of chancellor. We have worked 
closely together on issues of importance and common concern to the 
university and to my congressional district.
  Chancellor Tien was the first Asian American to head a major research 
university in the United States. Currently, he is the NEC distinguished 
professor of engineering at U.C. Berkeley. Chancellor Tien, was born in 
Wuhan, China and received his Bachelor's degree from the National 
Taiwan University. He first came to Berkeley in 1959 after completing 
his master's degree studies at the University of Louisville in 1957. He 
then earned a second master's degree and a doctorate in mechanical 
engineering at Princeton University.
  In addition to his numerous public service contributions, Chancellor 
Tien has achieved a remarkably distinguished record as a scientist and 
educator. Internationally recognized for his research in heat transfer 
technology, he received many honors, including the Max Jakob Memorial 
Award, the highest international honor in the field. He is a member of 
the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. At the age of 26, Chancellor 
Tien became the youngest professor ever to win the U.C. Berkeley's 
prestigious Distinguished Teaching Award.
  Anchored in both American and Asian cultures, Dr. Tien is deeply 
committed to maintaining excellence and to broadening the democratic 
reach of education to all groups. He is involved heavily in his 
community, focusing on educational reform programs particularly in 
primary and secondary schools. Chancellor Tien has become a leader in 
enhancing communication between the East and West through worldwide 
engagements. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International 
Policy, the U.S. Committee for Economic Development, the Council on 
Foreign Relations, and serves on the boards of numerous institutions 
such as Asia Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, and Chevron Corp. In 
addition, he is also chairman of the San Francisco Bay Area Economic 
Forum.
  I am grateful that Chancellor Tien continues to reside in Berkeley. 
His work and his contributions which are immeasurable, continue to flow 
to our community and we are grateful.

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