DMACC’s new Interim President, Dr. Liang Chee Wee, began his six-month tenure on January 1 of this year.
As the college continues its search for a permanent president, Dr. Wee arrived at DMACC with more than a decade of experience in community college leadership under his belt, having previously served as President of Northeast Iowa Community College for 11 years, and most recently, two years as Interim Chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.
We sat down with Dr. Wee and asked him some questions about leadership, education, and what it means to be, in his own words, a “transformational institution.”
Community college leadership is a niche career path; how did you decide it was the right one for you?
Community college was never on my radar. I was in graduate school at the University of Arizona, fully intending to enter the computer science industry, until I was asked to serve as a teaching assistant.
Later, I took some graduate schoolmates up on an offer to fill a position at Luther College in Decorah, while they were on sabbatical. I fully expected to retire as a professor. To spend the rest of my life in the classroom.
However, I lived near Northeast Iowa Community College and noticed an open provost position. A friend who worked there encouraged me to look into it, so I did.
I was hired and eventually became the college’s president, despite never actively seeking a leadership role in education. I spent 15 years there, learning all the facets of community college – and what questions to ask whom, because I don’t know everything.
My journey was completely unplanned.
My path was because of people saying, “Would you consider?”
And I was open to it.
It seems like people along the way saw that you had what it might take to be an effective leader, even though you weren't in the pursuit of leadership.
Yes, and that’s what I enjoy so much about community colleges – we also use that lens to look at our students. Many of our students don't know that they have certain qualities and abilities, and we say, ‘Hey, why don't you apply to the Honors Program? Why don't you apply for this internship?’
The affirmation that we give them is: I see you. I see your ability. Go for it.
What made you stay in Iowa?
I spent almost 10 years in Arizona. Loved it. Still do. Those were my formative years. I still have great friends there.
When I came to Iowa, I grew to love it. I loved the four seasons.
Where I live right now, Decorah, is a small place. During COVID, it really affirmed to me, during a very difficult time, what it meant to live in a caring community.
Sometimes we live in a place and we take it for granted. I was actually very thankful when I saw how people care about others. The character of a place is the people, not how they act during good times, when everything is hunky dory, but when there's a challenge, a huge challenge, the true character of a community shines – or doesn’t. And I saw how that place shined, and realized I chose a good place to live.
I mean, we have cold winters, but then it will pass and spring will come. And then the summer comes, we'll complain about how hot it is. And when the winter comes, there's always discontent, but at the end of it, we still roll with the season here in Iowa.
You spoke very movingly [at Faculty Development Day] about your mother's wisdom and resilience. How has your family and life experience influenced how you define education and success?
Education really is a team effort. I remember all the teachers throughout the years who cared about me. I still remember when I was a child going to school elementary school, I cried every day. I was so scared because I just didn't feel comfortable in the new environment. And one morning, during assembly, my teacher Mrs. Leon, came up and she just wrapped me in, held me there in her arms, and just let me cry. She didn't say ‘Stop crying.’ And that was probably the most comforting thing a frightened child can experience.
So, I can just imagine how afraid my mom must be navigating everyday life, walking down the street and not knowing what the signs say. Her life, I think, was full of adaptation and rogue memories. She knew what the businesses were and which transportation to take, but she couldn’t read.
From this, I learned, we cannot assume that everybody is equipped to navigate our environment. We have to assume that we can always help.
Community colleges serve students from every background imaginable. What has continued to draw you personally to this system of education?
People who walk through our doors are giving us an opportunity to partner with them. We're not doing them a favor. We have to be grateful that they actually trust us to help them on a new journey – or continue an unfinished one.
And some people will take longer than others because they are differently prepared. Every journey is different.
We must have the patience, humility and gratefulness to walk with each one.
And when they are done, the joy is amazing. That's why I love graduation.
That's why community colleges are fantastic. We never know the impact we're going to have.
Throughout the busyness of school and life and work, it's easy for all of us to just want to move quickly from task to task. You encouraged all of us to pause and to be grateful. How do you personally practice that? How do you start and end your day?
I end the day with a prayer. I start the day with a prayer. I pray for family and loved ones.
I am just such a small part of the whole universe, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity to live the life I am living now and not to take it for granted.
I remember friends who are not well, to pray for them. Must most importantly, I ask for forgiveness of my shortcomings, because I know I'm flawed. I have to continue to remind myself that I'm not perfect. And so, every day, I confess that I still need to be a better person so that I don't judge other people.
We all need to be curious about each other, not judgmental, because we never know why, or how, people got into any situation.
When I drive to work, it's my time to be very quiet, to be thoughtful about things, and to not just let the miles go by, but to really see. I see the farmland sometimes, and I give thanks to the farm because they provide the food. And I see nature, so I give thanks for the creatures around us, that they have a place among us. In fact, they were here before.
You've said that we are more than a transactional institution; we're transformational. But what does transformation look like when it's done well in this setting?
Transformation is actually a process. I don't think we ever get there. Transformational only happens when we are curious about people – before they even sign up for classes. We must ask prospective students questions to truly get to know them. If we don’t, we won’t know the aspirations that prompted them to enroll here.
Transactional means we’re rushing to just get through the process.
Transformational requires us to have a relationship.
You told faculty during your first address as Interim President earlier this month that you're deeply grateful for the chance to spend six months here at DMACC. Is there anything else that has already surprised or inspired you about this community on your sixth day?
I'm grateful because DMACC allows me to have another look at a college. On the outside, we may assume that every community college is about the same. But it’s the people who form the culture, and every place is different.
So, I'm looking forward to knowing the culture of this place. My six months will go by fast, but during this time, I want to experience what our students experience, what our faculty and staff colleagues experience. So that when I leave here, I'm able to tell the DMACC story more.
How do you approach such a short-term tenure, especially as staff and faculty are looking to a leader to meet this moment of transition?
Number one is to acknowledge that there is a change.
That's why I said I'm not asking our colleagues to do anything different. I'm asking them to do what they already know how to do, but I want them to be more aware of how to do it even better. That's one way to reduce the stress of this transition.
Whatever is happening, our mission and vision remain the same.
Another important way for us to navigate this time is continuing to affirm why we're here.
Let's make sure that we keep telling our story.
Among us, all of us, this is the time to lock our arms. We got this. This place is strong not because of one person. This place is strong because everybody in the village embraces the common mission and vision.
That's why I talk about my village, because literally, I grew up in a village where we watched out for each other.
And I still miss that village.
It's not there anymore, actually, because when I was 18, a new development came in, and they needed the land. And so, we were all dispersed. The homes were gone. The only place that remains is the temple. If I stand in front of the template, I can locate the site of my childhood home. That’s what I’ll be looking for when I return one day.
For updates on the DMACC presidential search, visit dmacc.edu/president