Chen
 “Linda reached out and served as a mentor to female students who had never before enjoyed such an empowering role model in the classroom.” —Neovi M. Karakatsanis, associate professor of |
Wilbert Hites Mentoring Award
When Linda Chen arrived on the IU South Bend campus in 1991, very few females—and even fewer minorities—had tenure-track faculty positions.
As it turned out, Chen’s arrival heralded a new era in South Bend. The campus hired an increasing number of young women in the mid-1990s who would seek out the newly tenured Chen to help them make the difficult transition into academia.
Chen has earned the reputation of “go-to” person for advice on campus, said Louise Collins, chair of the Department of Philosophy at IU South Bend, who benefited from Chen’s “sage advice and tireless support” as she struggled to adapt to the culture of a Midwestern commuter college and become the first tenure-track female in her academic department.
“It is a remarkable accomplishment to have earned the confidence and respect of people located in such a variety of different niches in the university, yet this is indeed what Linda has done through her own consistent, low-key labor of mentoring,” said Collins.
Despite her unassuming style, Chen’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. With the passing of each year, she becomes increasingly visible and in demand on campus. In recent years, Chen was asked to serve as interim director of the Women’s Studies Program and chair of the Department of Foreign Languages when the department faced a possible shutdown. Today, the department is on strong footing because of Chen’s efforts to maintain a collegial, enthusiastic and positive teaching environment.
Chen also has been a positive role model for her students, especially her female students and those who are the first in their families to attend college. She draws on her own experiences as a woman of color, an immigrant to this country and a first-generation college student to enlighten, engage and encourage students facing similar obstacles.
Chen has received a number of awards in recognition of her mentoring efforts both inside and outside the classroom. They include induction into the IU Faculty Colloquium for Excellence in Teaching and the IU Teaching Excellence Recognition Award.
Mentoring is not a “top-down” relationship, said Chen. “I learn from my students as they learn from me. The hardships they face, the obstacles they overcome and the knowledge they have to offer, based on their life experiences, have enlightened me and made me a better teacher and mentor.”
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