EICC leader prepares to retire, ‘let life happen’

There is a framed photograph on the desk of Liang Chee Wee, the interim chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The photo shows a young woman, dressed in a gown and mortarboard as she attends an EICC graduation ceremony. The woman is holding a toddler, and her graduation cap is decorated with the phrase: “Just […]

There is a framed photograph on the desk of Liang Chee Wee, the interim chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. The photo shows a young woman, dressed in a gown and mortarboard as she attends an EICC graduation ceremony. The woman is holding a toddler, and her graduation cap is decorated with the phrase: “Just the beginning.” That photo means a lot to the EICC leader. It shows the struggles and challenges many students face in life and college. It also shows the triumph of graduating and looking forward to the next steps in life. Or, as Mr. Wee likes to say –  it's all about asking “What’s next?” “My colleagues are here to embrace students for the ‘What’s next.’ … We help people have a better life. We help people break the cycle of poverty,” Mr. Wee said in an interview as he is about to end his professional education career at EICC.

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Mr. Wee became the interim chancellor in October 2023, shortly after Sonya Williams resigned the chancellor post for personal reasons, according to EICC officials. He came out of retirement to join EICC in a temporary role. Before coming to the Quad Cities, he had a long career as an educator at Luther College, and most recently served as president of Northeast Iowa Community College. Now, 21 months after arriving at EICC, his time there comes to an end this week. (This April, Bryan Renfro, who is currently president of John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois, was approved as the new college district leader. He officially begins his new job as EICC chancellor on Tuesday, July 1.) During his time as EICC leader, Mr. Wee has been widely praised for his work and accomplishments in the community. "Dr. Wee has embodied Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ mission and core values of delivering high-quality education and training to strengthen our communities and ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities for success.  He has been a wonderful partner to work with, and I wish him much joy in retirement,” Marie Gleason, a member of the EICC Board of Trustees, told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal on Wednesday, June 25.   The EICC leader will likely get a lot more words of praise during a farewell reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, June 25) at the Scott Community College Culinary Arts Building in Bettendorf. Numerous EICC members, community and business leaders are expected to attend the event and thank Mr. Wee for his work. Before the farewell reception, the EICC leader sat down with the QCBJ this morning to reflect on his time at the college district, his thoughts about the Quad Cities and his plans for the future. He said that his fondest memories from the past 21 months center on the people and places of the Quad Cities. “It’s a big place, but doesn’t live like a big place. … People here, for the most part, don’t drive crazy,” he said, adding that he has always been impressed that most drivers slow down for school districts, and usually obey traffic rules and speed limits. He has also been impressed with the food options in the Quad Cities. He said some of his favorite places have been Me & Billy Kitchen and Bar, Mission BBQ, Exotic Thai and the Machine Shed. “It’s really how lovely the people are. That makes the food taste better. … It's a welcoming place,” he added. In fact, he has this advice for the new chancellor when it comes to getting to know the “welcoming place” of the Quad Cities and EICC – “observe and listen well.” Mr. Wee adds that every place is unique, so the new chancellor will have to adapt to the place and people. But, most importantly, he has this tip for his successor:  “Don’t talk  a lot, listen more.” During his tenure at EICC, Mr. Wee has spent a lot of time listening to students. In fact, during EICC’s recent high school equivalency program graduations, he has been inspired by the stories of struggle and perseverance many of the students have shared as they earned their diplomas. During those ceremonies, he has also told the students that he knows their struggles first hand. Mr. Wee arrived in the U.S. on July 4, 1983, after serving in the Singapore Armed Forces. He grew up in a rural village in Singapore, and received help from many people to get a formal education. It’s also during these ceremonies that the EICC leader has this question and challenge for the students: “What’s next?” He wants them to think about their futures and make plans to achieve big goals in their lives. The EICC leader has been thinking about that question in recent days. As for the college district, he’s very optimistic about its future and thinks EICC will continue to help students because of a great staff and faculty helping them. Also, the district will succeed because it has a vast network of partners in the community that includes working with more than 200 local businesses, he added. As for his future, Mr. Wee put it this way: “Let life happen.” Part of letting life happen will be to spend more time with family at his home in Decorah, Iowa. While with EICC, he has lived in an apartment in the Quad Cities, and usually commuted to his home on the weekends. He said that in the past 21 months, he has only been able to spend about 48 hours a week with his wife, Jane Ann Whelan, and other family members. Some of that additional time at home will also probably be spent downsizing some items in his home. He said he should start the process of clearing out papers, files and other materials that are now stored in his basement.  One of the items that probably will not be discarded is a small pin he has worn on his jacket for years. That pin depicts a small red wagon. The pin is not a whimsical style choice; it’s the logo of a group called America’s Promise. That is an organization started by the late Colin Powell – the former U.S. secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That nonprofit group is dedicated to uplifting at-risk youth through a cross sector association of community organizations, businesses, and government organizations.  “The little red wagon is a symbol of childhood. It could be filled with a child’s hopes and dreams or weighed down with their burdens. Millions of American children need our help to pull that wagon along. Let’s all pull together,” Mr. Powell once said about the wagon symbol. The EICC leader said the pin reminds him of a big goal –  helping lift people up and help them succeed in life – especially through the educational opportunities offered by EICC. The pin, he added, also reminds him of a four-word core value of EICC – “changing lives, building communities.” As he leaves EICC, Mr. Wee said he has many mixed emotions. They include sadness because he is leaving a team of people he has enjoyed working with and also gratitude for getting to work at EICC and with its caring professionals. There also is stress because he is trying not to forget any last-minute jobs and details. But one of the main emotions he is also feeling is joy. “The joy is I get to finally go home,” he added.