VMI Professor Receives 2021 Outstanding Faculty Award

Col. Tinni Sen, Ph.D., professor of economics in the Department of Economics and Business at the Virginia Military Institute, is one of the 12 recipients of the 2021 Outstanding Faculty Awards. These awards, announced by the State Council of Higher Education and Dominion Energy, recognize faculty at Virginia’s institutions of higher education who exemplify the highest standards of teaching, scholarship, and service. This year, the program received 72 nominations for the award.

Sen joined VMI as an assistant professor of economics in 2001. She holds the Alexander P. Morrison 1939 professorship and has been the recipient of VMI’s Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award, the VMI Distinguished Teaching Award, and Washington and Lee University’s James G. Leyburn ODK Award for exemplary service to her community.

She received her doctorate from the University of Mississippi, master’s degree from the University of Kolkata, India, and her bachelor’s degree in economics from Lady Brabourne College in Kolkata.

She has co-authored two books and several articles, is working on another co-authored book expected out in 2021, and, with a co-author, is piloting a study for implementing a Mindfulness Training for Resilient Leaders program at VMI. She has a strong record of community service working over the years with 50 Ways Rockbridge, Habitat for Humanity, Project Horizon, Rockbridge County NAACP, Rockbridge Regional Library, and local schools. She is also a faculty co-advisor to the VMI Promaji Club.

Sen lives in Rockbridge County with her husband, two daughters, and two cats, and expresses her gratitude for being part of the VMI faculty.

She is the 10th member of the VMI faculty to receive a SCHEV award in the past 18 years. Most recently, Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, Ph.D., professor of economics and business, received an Outstanding Faculty Award in 2019. Each recipient of this year’s award will receive a $7,500 gift from Dominion Energy at a virtual ceremony in the spring.