Paul Shu-Pei Tien is an American educator who was born in Tianjin, China and grew up in Taiwan^{[not verified in body]}. He emigrated to the United States to pursue graduate education in electrical engineering, and later became a professor of electrical engineering in Ohio.^{[not verified in body]} In January 1978, Tien established the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) on the Caribbean island of Montserrat^{[not verified in body]}. AUC is now located on the island of Sint Maarten.

Tien is the chancellor of AUC;^{[1][failed verification] [dead link] [not verified in body]} while his son, Yife Tien, is the chancellor of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.^{[2][failed verification][not verified in body]}