Adrian Tan

The Tan (Chen in Pinyin) family came about in 1991, when Adrian married his High School sweetheart Linda after eight years of courtship. Brandon was born five years later, and the family is happily settled in Murphy, Texas.

Adrian is currently a full-time faculty with the Sociology Department at Southern Methodist University, and Linda will join the staff of Texas Woman’s University (School of Management) come August 2008. Brandon will be in the 7th Grade at Cooper Junior High School (Wylie ISD) this fall.

Higher Education has been the lifeblood of the Tan family. Adrian has been in higher education for most of his professional career, and Linda earned her degrees from places Adrian worked. Brandon was born and raised on different University settings, and loves to visit his father’s workplace whenever the opportunity presents itself. Brandon’s dream is to attend Southern Methodist University.

Linda has an Associate’s Degree from Ohio University (Athens, OH), a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and MBA from Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX).

Adrian earned his Bachelor’s Degree (English & Philosophy) and Master’s Degrees (Sociology & International Affairs) from Ohio University. He has a PhD in Sociology from the University of North Texas (Denton, TX).

Adrian enjoys reading and spending long hours working out at the gym on a daily basis. He also runs an average of 20 miles a week with the four family dogs. Adrian would watch old Kung Fu movies featuring his childhood heroes Wang Yu, Bruce Lee, David Chiang, Ti Lung and Alexander Fu Sheng occasionally.

Linda enjoys shopping, eating, and follows Adrian to the gym whenever she has the opportunity. She loves engaging home improvement projects, gardening, and is a frequent visitor to Lowes and Home Depot.

Brandon enjoys the natural sciences, and would spend hours in the garden observing creatures. He loves marine creatures as well, and was able to name the various species of sharks upon sight when he was five. He once aspired to be Marine Biologists but changed his mind upon the death of the “Crocodile Hunter”.

Unlike his father, Brandon enjoys the fine arts. He became a die hard fan of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats”, when he was three, and still is to this present day. Brandon also loves to draw, and plays the Saxophone.

The Tans are proud to be part of the Sacred Heart of Jesus community, and hope to do more for the Church. Adrian is currently the President of the Chinese School PTA, and has volunteered to teach CCD classes in fall.