Engineering professor endows award for faculty support

With a distinguished higher education career spanning more than 30 years, James Tien knows that the early career phase for faculty is a pivotal time filled with challenges and opportunities and that navigating academia’s complexities while striving for tenure can be daunting.

Easing those burdens is what motivated Tien to create an endowed faculty award to support budding scholars.

“Early career is a key thing in the higher education environment. I’ve been a department chair for over 20 years, then a dean at two institutions, and so on. Having that perspective, I realized that young faculty, early-career faculty, should be really encouraged in whatever way we can because they need the help and encouragement,” said Tien, faculty ombudsperson and professor, and former dean of the University of Miami College of Engineering.

The James M. Tien Early Career Award and Grant annually recognizes and supports deserving tenure-track faculty members who have shown excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship during their first few years at the University. The award was first presented in 2023 to Adam Holt, assistant professor in the Department of Marine Geosciences at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. Holt was recognized for his outstanding research in geodynamics and tectonics.

This year’s recipient is Scott Grapin, an assistant professor in the School of Education and Human Development’s Department of Teaching and Learning. His current research explores curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment for K-12 STEM students and their classmates who speak multiple languages, showcasing his commitment to creating inclusive and effective educational practices.

Tien’s keen interest in early-career faculty development comes from personal experience.

“I think my years as an administrator let me understand that junior faculty need help. We’ve recognized a lot of senior faculty members for things like named endowed professorships, National Academy appointments, and so on. But really, by the time you’re senior, you’re good, and you must have been good to get through all that. What we really need to do is encourage and help junior faculty,” Tien said.

As a distinguished engineer and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Tien wanted the award open to all disciplines, not just engineering or the sciences. This approach aims to recognize and support excellence in scholarship, irrespective of the field. The endowed award’s structure ensures that the annual distribution is divided into two parts: a discretionary award of at least $1,000 and a grant to further the awardee’s scholarship.

Tien’s commitment to diversity in scholarship and his trust in the institution to identify the best scholars across various disciplines set his endowment apart. “It speaks to Dr. Tien being someone who values life and scholarship in all its diversity and richness,” said Alexandra Wilson, interim vice provost for faculty affairs.

The vision for the endowed faculty award goes beyond immediate recognition and support. Tien aims to create a ripple effect that will enhance their professional growth and academic contributions by investing in early-career faculty. This support not only aids in overcoming initial hurdles but also opens doors to future opportunities.

He also hopes that the award will encourage others to establish similar awards, emphasizing the personal nature of endowments and their impact on the academic community.

“The award can also serve as seed funding, signaling to grant agencies that the University of Miami recognizes the recipient as an emerging top scholar, making it more likely they’ll secure further funding in the future,” Tien said.