Unboxing Old Photos: Chang-Lin Tien, Berkeley's First Asian Chancellor, Rewrites U.S. Higher Education History

(CNA Website) In 1992, the chancellor's residence at the University of California, Berkeley was invaded by radicals attempting to assassinate Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien. The incident shocked the entire United States and revealed the immense pressure and challenges faced by this pioneering Asian American leader behind his public image.

Born in Hubei, China in 1935 and raised in Taiwan, Chang-Lin Tien graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University before pursuing advanced studies in the United States. Despite financial hardship, he completed his education through scholarships and earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He then spent decades teaching at Berkeley (UC Berkeley). At just 27, he was honored as a Distinguished Professor and was elected to both the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Academia Sinica, gaining international recognition in the field of heat transfer research.

In 1990, Tien was selected as the 7th chancellor of Berkeley from among numerous candidates. Berkeley has long been known for its strong liberal identity, frequent student activism, and complex intersections of race and social issues, making it one of the most challenging universities to govern in the United States.

When Tien took office, the university faced severe financial deficits, campus unrest, and social conflicts. The administration's support for cleaning up the nearby People's Park, notorious for crime and disorder, sparked outrage among radical groups. In the early hours of August 25, 1992, a woman armed with a knife broke into the chancellor's residence in an assassination attempt. Fortunately, Chancellor Tien and his wife were not sleeping in the master bedroom and narrowly escaped death. Police shot and killed the intruder, but the incident left the campus in turmoil. Tien returned to work as usual afterward and personally reassured students, demonstrating remarkable composure and courage under crisis.

Beyond crisis management, Tien actively pursued reforms and fundraising initiatives during his tenure, gradually improving the university's financial health and campus climate. He stated that his appointment as Berkeley's chancellor was "a breakthrough for Asians in American society." His success not only reshaped the history of American higher education but also became a model for Asian immigrants.

To view more photos of Chang-Lin Tien, visit CNA's Image Space immediately. 1150617

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