Breaking Bamboo Ceilings: Teik Lim's Rise as NJIT's First Asian American President

Breaking Bamboo Ceilings: Teik Lim's Rise as NJIT's First Asian American President

Millions chase the American Dream. Some succeed while others fail. But they share one thing in common: the struggle they go through. Whether one forded rivers and climbed mountains or bought a first class plane ticket to America, they all must, regardless of their wealth, go through the process of finding their place in their new home. So how does a poor young immigrant from Southeast Asia become a renowned pillar of the academic community?

A Malaysian Childhood: Roots of Resilience

Malaysia is a small country in Southeast Asia composed of a series of islands. Around 20% of the population is of Chinese descent. Although Malaysian Chinese are often leaders in the business community, instances of Sinophobia are prevalent. Children of Chinese descent often first comes into contact with this discrimination in the schoolyard. Teik Lim, a Malaysian Chinese, can testify to this.

 Teik was called out for his ancestry by his classmates, and told to “go back to China.” In fact, Lim exclaims, “I didn’t even know what China was like!” He goes on to explain his crime in the eyes of his Malay peers, “I excelled in mathematics and science, and I generally performed well at school.”

 However, like racism anywhere, it often originates in the rhetoric and policies of national politics before trickling down into the schoolyard. Lim’s childhood dream was to become a pilot but due to the political climate, the Malaysian government wanted most personnel to be of Malay descent, effectively dashing his hopes. As Lim reiterates, “one significant factor contributing to all this racial discrimination is the institutionalized nature of racism.”

The American Education Odyssey

Teik Lim’s experiences in childhood solidified his desire to leave Malaysia after his rejection from the Air Force. Like millions of others throughout the decades, the United States represented the American Dream. His particular version of the American Dream centered around the American higher education system. As he confidently asserted, “The U.S. has one of the best higher education systems in the world.”

 In 1983, a teenager arrived in the United States. Instead of a pilot, he was now on the promising career track of engineering. His record of excelling in mathematics and science continued, winning a scholarship to Michigan Technological University, becoming a researcher, and working in industry before joining the faculty of several universities. Finally, in 2022, he became the President of NJIT—the New Jersey Institute of Technology, a public university in the state. This made him the first Asian American president of a New Jersey public university.

 As President Lim’s high school teacher had once suggested, “[…] although I couldn't fly planes, I could become an engineer and build airplanes.”

Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling

Teik Lim follows the stereotype of many Asian Americans: intelligent and high achieving. In fact, Asian Americans consistently outperform other ethnic groups on standardized tests and in grades at school. Considering the number of Asian Americans in the United States, there is a fair amount of representation in the faculty of colleges and universities across the country. However, there are few in positions of leadership in those institutions like Lim is.

 As he points out, “Few become department heads, and even fewer become presidents.” He goes on to explain, “I believe that many Asian-Americans face a ‘bamboo ceiling.’”

 The bamboo ceiling is a barrier that minorities, especially those of Asian descent, face. Lim believes that it stems from personality and what he terms “power skills.” First, being resilient and embodying integrity is necessary for a leader. He compares resilience to his namesake, bamboo, which his name “Teik” means: “If a hurricane sweeps through, bamboo bends but does not break.” Power skills are also important, and something he believes many Asian Americans lack. These are skills that revolve around communication, collaboration, and empathy. He summarizes, “Regardless of the field you choose to pursue, whether it's medicine, engineering, or business, these skills are crucial and are essential qualities for success.”

 Teik Lim has achieved the pinnacle of success. From being a victim of bullying in Malaysia, he has become one of the most respected academic leaders in America. Through his journey, Asian American youths—and indeed, all young people with big dreams—can apply his life lessons to their own lives. Lim ends by reminding us all that, in the end, the most important part of being a leader is “making a positive impact on those around you.”

Reporter’s Note: I was first introduced to President Teik Lim by the New Jersey Taiwanese newspaper, Chinese News Weekly, while conducting a series of interviews featuring different Asian American leaders within the community. He graciously agreed to share his experiences and life story in an interview on July 2022, not long after he was made President of NJIT. We hope to inspire more Asian American youths to pursue leadership positions in our communities.