Professor Hsiu-Lan Shelley Tien Honored with NCDA’s Highest Award
Hsiu-Lan Shelley Tien, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) and Dean of the College of Education, received the Eminent Career Award from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) this June. She is the first scholar from Taiwan to be honored and only the second non-U.S. recipient of the organization’s highest distinction in its more than hundred-year history.
Founded in 1913, the NCDA is the world’s oldest professional body devoted to career development, shaping research, practice, and policy worldwide. Its annual conference, held June 18–20 in Atlanta, drew educators, practitioners, scholars, and policymakers from across the globe. Under the theme “Autonomous Change: Evolution and Adaptation of Career Development in a Revolutionary Era,” discussions addressed emerging trends, technological innovation, and evolving educational models.
At the opening ceremony, the NCDA presented international honors to leading professionals. The Eminent Career Award recognizes enduring scholarship as well as meaningful contributions to advancing career education and fostering intercultural dialogue.
A Pioneer in the Asia-Pacific
Professor Tien has been a driving force in professionalizing career development across the Asia-Pacific, bringing Taiwan’s and the broader Sinophone community’s insights to the international stage. She has served in leadership roles with the NCDA and the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA), delivered keynote addresses worldwide, and promoted collaboration across borders. Her efforts have amplified the visibility of Chinese-speaking communities in global discourse.
“I believe I’m the first Taiwanese recipient, and at present, there are only two of us in the Asia-Pacific—the other is from Israel,” she said, her modest tone underscoring the award’s significance.
For decades, Tien has shaped K–12 career education policy, designed curricula and assessment tools, and led national-level research initiatives. A founding member and former president of the APCDA, she has helped position Taiwan as a growing force in the international career development arena.
Reflecting on the award, she noted, “I submitted my CV during a particularly hectic time—only later did I learn that APCDA, test publishers, and many colleagues had submitted recommendation letters on my behalf.”
She has led numerous research projects, authored six books and more than seventy academic papers, and introduced widely used career assessment tools to Taiwan, adapting them for Chinese-speaking regions. Among her most influential works is Applying Career Development Theory to Counseling, which integrates traditional and emerging theories with practical activities to help readers reflect on career paths and decision-making styles.
Her scholarship, she emphasizes, stems from a belief that “life’s trajectory is rich and ever-evolving—and the purpose of helping others is to empower them to understand, embrace, and shape their own futures.”
Formative Years and Mentors
Tien traces her commitment to career development to her early years at NTNU. “In my first year of graduate school, courses with Professors Wu-Tien Wu and Shuh-Ren Jin inspired me to pursue career development for my research focus,” she recalls. Her master’s thesis under Professor Jin explored how career interests take shape.
She credits the discipline and warmth of her mentors—Professor Jin, Director Lin Ching-Shan, and Professor Huang Jian-Hou—with guiding her through the challenges of academic life. Later doctoral studies at the University of Iowa, along with collaborations with Albert Hood, David Japsen, and Berry Chung (now Dean of the School of Education, University of San Diego), gave her further international perspective.
Commitment to Underserved Communities
Beyond her scholarship, Tien has devoted her career to underserved groups—women reentering the workforce, at-risk youth, caregivers of individuals with disabilities, and those overcoming substance addiction. “Helping those who need it most is where the heart of this work lies,” she reflected. Her recent projects have focused on these communities, using career counseling as a tool for reconnection—with oneself and with society.
Balancing Roles: Love, Work, and Play
Tien describes her guiding triad as love, work, and play. Students see her as a mentor, practitioners as a leader, and policymakers as a consultant. Yet she remains humble: “I’ve never aspired to be a leader—I prefer listening and walking alongside others.”
Despite a demanding schedule, she prioritizes personal growth. At 35 she began piano lessons, and she continues to turn to music for restoration. After intensive projects, she enjoys road trips with family, moments she calls “vital reservoirs of resilience.”
A Life Guided by Purpose
“The most important factor in choosing a career is genuine interest,” she emphasizes to students. Passion, she believes, sustains perseverance. Her long-held motto—“Do your best and leave the rest to fate”—has guided her through research, teaching, and service.
She reminds students that university years lay a foundation, but true growth often begins in the workplace. Curiosity, courage, and stepping beyond one’s comfort zone, she says, are the best preparations for an uncertain future.
Despite global recognition, Tien remains grounded: “From here on, I’ll do what I can—and continue sharing mutual support with those around me.” She looks ahead to further research, teaching, and service, ensuring Taiwan’s voice remains strong on the world stage of career development.