"The mechanical engineering department at Berkeley never used to be anything special. It wasn't until he became chairman and brought in outstanding young professors to make their mark that its reputation went up," says Ernest S. Kuh, a professor of electrical engineering who, as head of the College of Engineering, was once Dr. Tien's "superior officer."
「柏克萊機械系原本並不出色，是他就任系主任後，找來優秀的年輕教授做出成績，聲望才提高的」，過去一直是田長霖「長官」，曾任柏克萊工學院院長的電機系教授葛守仁指出。