James M. Tien, distinguished professor, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Miami and world-renowned researcher and educator, who has devoted over 25 years to enhancing IEEE's image and improving the services it provides to its members and industry, is being honored with the 2010 IEEE Richard M. Emberson Award. IEEE is the world's largest professional association advancing technology for humanity.
"I am deeply honored by this award," says Tien. "Moreover, to be recognized for doing what I enthusiastically volunteered to do -- to make IEEE the organization of choice for technical, publication and educational activities --is akin to receiving a double honor. It has been a humbling and rewarding experience."
The award, sponsored by the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB), recognizes Tien for vision and leadership in advancing IEEE's global visibility and recognition as an innovator in technical, publication and educational services. The award will be presented on June 26, 2010 at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and will be broadcast live on the Web through IEEE.tv (www.ieee.tv).
Tien has worked tirelessly in providing effective leadership for IEEE volunteers and staff in pursuit of his vision of making IEEE the "organization of choice" for professional growth and the source for technical publications and educational material. Tien has left a lasting imprint on IEEE through his involvement with over 60 committees and boards, especially the IEEE TAB, Publication Services and Products Board (PSPB) and Education Activities Board (EAB). His wealth of accomplishments in advancing IEEE's goals can be credited to his proactive nature and ability to motivate colleagues to support his vision.
Tien has served on many committees within the IEEE TAB. As chair of the TAB Publication Committee, he was instrumental in safeguarding and improving IEEE publications by establishing important policies for IEEE journals and magazines. He also initiated formal periodic reviews of all IEEE Society publications to evaluate quality and timeliness.
During his involvement with IEEE's PSPB, including roles as chairman and as vice president, Tien instituted important enhancements. He helped lead the migration of IEEE publications to an all-electronic-based subscription product known as the "IEEE/IET Electronic Library" (IEL). He worked closely with IEEE marketing and sales staffs to initiate a price model based on usage for corporations subscribing to IEL, which became the "IEEE Enterprise" product. These accomplishments not only made IEEE publications more accessible but provided new revenue sources for IEEE. Tien also led efforts to revamp IEEE's flagship publication, "IEEE Spectrum," to improve its quality and readability and extend readership beyond IEEE membership.
Tien's efforts within the IEEE EAB are also noteworthy. He led efforts in the development of the "Thomson-IEEE Expert Now" online resource to provide convenient access to the best cutting-edge short courses from IEEE conferences. This project met the continuing education needs of IEEE members and industry as well as contributed a revenue source that compliments the IEL. Tien also established the Educational Activities Board Public Awareness Committee to promote awareness and understanding of the role engineering plays in the world economy and in enhancing quality of life.
An IEEE Fellow and member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, Tien's area of expertise is the development and application of information and decision systems. His awards include the IEEE Joseph G. Wohl Outstanding Career Award (1998), the IEEE Major Educational Innovation Award (2000), the IEEE Norbert Wiener Award (2004) and the IBM Faculty Award (2005). He received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., and master's and doctorate degrees in systems engineering and operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Tien is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Miami, Fla., and dean of its College of Engineering.