Troy, N.Y. — James M. Tien, the Yamada Corporation Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will leave the Institute to accept a new position as dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Miami.

Tien, a Rensselaer alumnus, was founding chair of the Department of Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems (DSES) and currently holds a joint appointment in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering. He will assume his new role in Miami on Sept. 1.

“The University of Miami is indeed fortunate to attract such a talented and accomplished individual as its new engineering dean,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “Jim Tien is a loyal son of Rensselaer who has given many years of distinguished service to his alma mater. He served on two different occasions as acting dean of engineering, and I am grateful for his leadership in that capacity and as one of Rensselaer’s most prominent faculty members.”

Tien earned his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer in 1966, and went on to earn a doctorate in systems engineering and operations research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972.

He joined the Rensselaer faculty in 1977 in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering and was the department’s acting chair from 1986 to 1987. In 1988, he became the founding chair of the Department of Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems. He twice served as acting dean of engineering at Rensselaer.

In 2001, Tien was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering. He served on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Board of Directors from 2000-04 and was IEEE Vice President in charge of the IEEE Publication Services and Products Board from 2001-02.

At the University of Miami, Tien will replace M. Lewis Temares, who has served as dean of the College of Engineering since 1994 and will focus on his role as vice president/CIO of information technology.

“The University of Miami is extremely fortunate to have such a distinguished researcher lead our College of Engineering,” University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala said in a news release. “His innovative thinking on the field of engineering will help engage all areas of the university in interdisciplinary activities.”

“I am excited about joining the University of Miami. With the commitment and support of President Shalala and Provost LeBlanc, I look forward to bringing more focus on those scholarly activities that can unite the academic areas of the University of Miami,” Tien said.

Contact: Michael Mullaney
Phone: (518) 276-6161
E-mail: mullam@rpi.edu