Robert Tian

Business Professor Robert Tian Brings International Perspective to Due West

Erskine's new Associate Professor of Business Administration, Dr. Robert Guang Tian, has seen poltical schemes and regimes come and go. A native of the People's Republic of China, Tian emigrated to Canada and then to the United States.

"My Ph.D. dissertation is about how new immigrants adapt in North America," Tian said. "I know that the processes of social and physical adaptation require time, not only in theory but in reality as well.

"I accumulated unique adaptability to such societal changes as the Cultural Revolution, the open-door policy and reform in China."

Tian has also coped with the personal changes accompanying his move from China to Canada and from Canada to the United States. His wife and two children remain in Canada, but are certain to enjoy the warmer climate of South Carolina when they join him here.

Tian was no passive spectator during his China years. "I had been actively involved in the policy analysis and decision making for the State Council of the People's Republic of China while executive director and research fellow of the West China Development Studies Center," he explained.

"I have had extensive international business travel experience, visiting more than 30 countries on several continents," said Tian.

His wealth of experience grew during his sojourn in Canada. "I did my Ph.D. studies at York University in Canada and worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Joint Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies after completing my doctoral work," said Tian.

"Later on I worked as the head instructor for the Toronto Academic International Exchange (TAIE) Institute, and as an instructor for business colleges."

Tian's move to the United States landed him in the South. "Last year, I moved to Anderson, teaching all the marketing courses at the Anderson College."

Tian is currently teaching BA 222, Economic Principles: Microeconomics; BA 334, Marketing Principles; and BA 335, Consumer Behavior.

He says he was drawn to Erskine because of some positive comments about the school made by Kyle Anderson, one of his former colleagues and a former Erskine professor. But Erskine was one of three colleges offering Tian a position. So why come to a small, private institution in the village of Due West?

"I decided to come to Erskine because I believed the new leadership at Erskine had constructed a very meaningful strategy for the development of the institution. Also, our business department chair is very ambitious in terms of building a good business program."

Tian made a careful study of Erskine before he made the commitment to come. "I read the U.S. News & World Report story on college rankings and found out that Erskine is a nationally ranked college. The student body is small and dynamic.

"I was attracted by the college's mission statement and friendly environment and by the high reputation that Erskine College enjoyed."

Like every professor, Tian brings his own teaching style to the classroom. "Lecturing and presentations are main approaches that I use, and I usually demand that students put in three hours to prepare and review the materials that I discuss in class.

"I focus on the basic concepts, principles, and their implementations in the real business world. Therefore I will encourage students to do more hands-on work to get real business working experience while they are still students rather than have them memorize vocabularies and the definitions.

"I believe students are my products, in a way, so I feel a real responsibility for their future employment. But I treat all my students as my friends and like all my students to treat me as their friend."

Tian's combination of high expectations and human warmth have already elicited positive responses from his students, whom he characterizes as "intelligent and diligent."

He is impressed by the respect shown to professors by Erskine students. "They are eager to learn and want to be educated. I enjoy teaching them.

"I am very happy to work with my students here. My fundamental teaching philosophy is that the students deserve to be educated," Tian said. "To help students obtain education and knowledge is the main basis of my personal happiness."