Professor Emerita, UIndy Visiting Professor, PhD Organizational Development Program, Assumption University, Thailand; Chair, Academic Advisory Board, Chinese American Museum of DC; Founder, West Meets East Culture and Health Forums at UIndy
Dr. Phylis Lan Lin was the Associate Vice President for International Partnerships, Professor of Sociology, and the Director of Asian Programs at the University of Indianapolis before her retirement in 2018. She established the University of Indianapolis Press in 1994 and she retired as Executive Director of the University of Indianapolis Press in 2014. Professor Lin holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Missouri. She has been teaching at the University of Indianapolis since 1973. She organized and chaired several international conferences, and has written and edited more than 30 books in Chinese and English.
Dr. Lin was the founder of the social work program (now department) at UIndy. In 1997, the accredited program was named The Phylis Lan Lin Program in Social Work. In 2004, the program became the independent Phylis Lan Lin Department of Social Work. Lin has been instrumental in establishing Asian links for the University of Indianapolis since 1990 and was responsible for the University of Indianapolis—Ningbo Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University Joint Program in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China beginning in 2004. Dr. Lin was appointed as Senior VP of Zhejiang Yuexiu Foreign Languages University–University of Indianapolis international College in January 2011. In 2004, Dr. Lin took a major role in the establishment of the Au Ho-nien Museum on the campus of the University of Indianapolis.
In 1990, Dr. Lin received a letter of congratulations from President George H. W. Bush for her efforts in organizing the International Symposium on China. Indianapolis Mayor William H. Hudnut III proclaimed July 26, 1991 as “Dr. Phylis Lan Lin Day” in Indianapolis and called on all citizens to join him in recognizing the important contributions that Dr. Lin had made toward strengthening the family unit all over the world through her efforts in organizing the First International Symposium on Families: East and West in 1991. Scholars from 16 nations around the globe attended the symposium.
Dr. Lin has served on the board of directors and on the advisory boards of several non-profit organizations. She was recently invited to serve as the Chair of the Academic Advisory Board, Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC. Dr. Lin has been a visiting professor for the PhD OD Program at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand since 2016. Dr. Lin was approved by the Board of Trustees, University of Indianapolis, as Professor Emerita, effective September 1, 2018.
Dr. Lin was honored in 2014 among the “Living Legends of Indiana’s Chinese American Community” for her contributions to education and international cooperation. The honorees were recognized during the 10th anniversary gala of the Indy Asian American Times newspaper. She was introduced at the event by her daughter Dr. Toni Lin, an orthopedic surgeon in Indianapolis, who described her mother as a prolific author and organizer of international symposia who lives by the principle of "VIP": vision, integrity, and passion. “She is living proof that an Asian American female can rise to become a leader and an amazing role model for her daughter and community,” Toni Lin said. In 2019, she was featured at the Be Heard Asian Experiences in Indiana Exhibit (April-August) at the Indiana History Center.
For more information about Dr. Phylis Lan Lin, please check the Phylis Lan Lin Department of Social Work.
Dr. Winberg Chai, Professor Emeritus, University of Wyoming. "When I first met Phylis, I was struck by this young professor's energy, enthusiasm and intelligence. In addition to the usual heavy teaching load and committee work that young faculty must participate in, Phylis was busy organizing conference panels and meeting with other scholars from around the country. She was very young but already exhibited the leadership skills that set her apart from her peers.
Now more than two decades later, her achievements are considerable. She is the only Chinese-American woman to be the current director of an academic press in the U.S.; the Phylis Lan Lin Program in Social Work in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Indianapolis literally bears her name; she is the Director of Asian Programs at her university and she is her university's Presidential International Ambassador, a role that she has certainly taken to heart, as she travels globally to build bridges between the United States and scholars from around the world. However, Phylis' accomplishments do not end there.” —November 12, 2007, Dr. Winberg Chai
Dr. Lin's American Host Family. "She is like a daughter to me. Phylis is conscientious, loyal and dedicated to any task she undertakes.” —January 29, 1973, Mrs. George A. Townsend
Dr. Lin's Dissertation Advisor. "Phylis, is a very bright young woman with an astonishing capacity for work, which coupled with a strong motivation for success has led her to the PhD degree in a relatively short time. She is a capable well-organized person, well trained in sociology across the board with a specialization in social organization, medical sociology, and the sociology of work.” —February 11, 1973, Dr. Robert Habenstein
A Colleague. "It has been my pleasure to know Dr. Lin since she came to teach at Southeast Missouri State University last September. Dr. Lin puts forth much time and effort in the preparation of her courses, and I know from personal experience that she is very effective in the classroom. Her enthusiasm for her subject is apparent and she possesses the ability to encourage and motivate students to do their best work.” —February 13, 1973, Dr. Rober Geisel
Foreign Student Advisor. "As Foreign Student Advisor I became very close to Phylis. This bond has continued throughout the years. Character-wise, she is outstanding – she is conscientious, industrious and cooperative. While at Montana State University, she demonstrated again and again maturity and capacity for empathy. She is extremely personable and has an excellent sense of humor. She is even-tempered, persistent and holds together well under pressure. In short, you will find her to be an able and amiable associate.” —January 29, 1967. Mrs. Helen Simpson
Dean Lynn Youngblood. In 1978, Academic Dean Lynn R. Youngblood confirmed Dr. Lin's appointment as Chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and predicted, "In my opinion there is much potential for growth within our Behavioral Science Department and I am confident that you will provide the type of leadership which will assist that growth whether it be quantitative or qualitative.” He closed with supportive thoughts and a wish: "Please know you obviously have my strong support as you assume this new responsibility. I am certain that I can indicate the same on behalf of President Sease. In the meantime, please concentrate your energies on having the finest baby boy or girl possible come August 1.” —June 7, 1978, Dr. Lynn R. Youngblood
Dean Noel C. Baker. "Dr. Lin's sense of service finds its outlet in loyalty and creative energies extended on university matters. She has been most supportive of our graduate programs and works toward their successful implementation. She serves as a good role model to all of us in academia." — Noel C. Baker, Dean, the Graduate School, February 29, 1984
Dean Carl Stockton. Dr. Lin's annual evaluations were consistently at the ‘outstanding' level:
In 1991 the Academic Dean noted: "You have been awarded a most unusual distinction of "outstanding” for the year. This recommendation comes from your chair and your dean, and I am delighted to sustain it in my recommendation to the president. I have carefully noted all of your strengths and achievements, particularly in your continuing availability to students, in your fine scholarship, and in your excellent service to the university.” —Annual Evaluation 2-13-91
Alumni News. Phylis "was awarded a fellowship from the Department of Health, Education & Welfare to pursue Medical Sociology at the University of Missouri and was the first to receive a doctorate in that program. Her classic sociological study of chiropractors in Missouri is widely quoted, and is considered one of the authoritative works in the field.” —"Dr. Phylis Lan Lin An Active Verb” by Don Frick, Alumni News 1979
President Gene Sease. As early as 1976, just a couple of years into Professor Lin's tenure with Indiana Central College, President Gene Sease wrote: "I cannot say enough about Dr. Lin's competencies. She is held in very high regard by her students as being an effective teacher and a scholar par excellence. She communicates readily both by her enthusiastic personality and her intellectual competence so that she is a pleasant person with whom to be. Dr. Lin is very effective in large public meetings as a speaker, but equally competent on an individual or small group basis. Her faculty colleagues here all hold her in high regard." —Gene E. Sease, President, March 12, 1976)
President Beverly Pitts. "Professor Lin coordinated and administered the Sino-American Program thanks to her ability to communicate, bridge, and issue resolutions with various units (academic, admissions, registration, accounting and budgeting, campus life, international division, etc.). The Sino-American program enhanced the UIndy campus and classroom diversity, provided funds for faculty development and student overseas travel, and brought in tuition income for the university. In addition, the program provides opportunities for Chinese students to study in China and still receive an American education (faculty is sent to teach in China.) It also enhances Chinese faculty opportunities to visit an American university for research and to observe American teaching methods. The program promotes the whole idea of globalization and internationalization of higher education for both American and Chinese universities.” —2007, remarks by President Beverly Pitts
The Chiropractor's Association. "Phylis Lan Lin, an attractive and diminutive guest at numerous chiropractic functions, puts chiropractic all together, so to speak, sociologically. Mrs. Lan Lin, a native of Taiwan, will attain her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri next May. The topic of her thesis is Chiropractic, Chiropractor and Process: A Study of Sociology of Occupations and Professions. She has had two teaching assistantships, one at Montana State and one at Missouri and is an avid bowler, winning first place in several tournaments. Aside from all this, Phylis' mother is a practicing ophthalmologist of 25 years in Taiwan and has some 17 other relatives active in the various healing arts.” — The Missouri State Chiropractor's Association October 1971 newsletter
A lady with a big heart, deep compassion, high spirit, far vision, overwhelming energy, unfathomable generosity, and worldwide influence. A woman who gives all of herself and engages in life fully to make a difference in everything she does. To me, knowing her is not only seeing ‘education for service’ in action, but an artistic experience all by itself.