Fiona: At the time you
applied for the Chair position, had you been shopping around for administrative
openings?
Dr. Wang: I had never
considered leaving my current university or seeking an administrative position
until about a year ago. I was frustrated at the time when I bumped into this
opening. I said to myself, “That seems like a position for me.” So I applied.
Fiona: I’m glad you did
it. During the job interview, while facing your future colleagues, some of whom
were probably more established than you are, have you ever doubted that you would
be the right person for the business? How did you know you were ready?
Dr. Wang: I guess it’s like
many other journeys in my life: I was not fully ready but had to embark on
anyway. I have been working on developing programs and initiatives that fostered
leadership since I started as an assistant professor. In a way, I had been
preparing myself when the opportunity presented luckily. I still can’t say I am
ready now, but I know I can do it in the days to come. I also believe that
leadership requires a different set of skills that are not necessarily
associated with academic achievements or seniority.
Fiona: I agree; it has
more to do with the person’s willingness to serve a group or make a difference.
What was the most difficult part during the interview? Ever wished you had
known more about the individuals in the department?
Dr. Wang: You are right
that the most difficult part of my interview was the lack of knowledge on the
exact issues/problems faced by the department in advance. I gave an oral presentation
largely based on my speculations, experience, and limited information about the
faculty. During my second campus interview, I spoke to everyone in the
department and discussed about their specific concerns. But still, I gained
their votes without being able to please everyone.
Fiona: You specialize in
teaching non-native speakers second languages. Have you observed differences in
the way native English speakers learn Chinese, as opposed to how Chinese people
learn English? Do you have any advice for us ESL learners?
Dr. Wang: I believe in
terms of complexity, every language is about the same, while the challenge in
learning each of them is unique. For Chinese, it is the characters and tones that
frustrate non-native learners. The ways of approaching a language, English or
Chinese, depend on the educational practices the learners are comfortable with.
So it’s hard to characterize how Americans differ from Chinese in learning a
foreign language.
As for advice on learning
English, I think anyone who is reading this article must have had some good
ideas already. For me, I enjoyed learning English and using it in life, such as
watching TV shows, movies, and reading.
Fiona: Maybe that
enjoyment is the key. Do you think your linguistic expertise has advanced your
career by equipping you with exceptional skills to sway your audience?
Dr. Wang: Yes and no. As
Confucius said, “The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his
action”. I cannot downplay the importance of words, but for this position, language
was actually not in my favor as other competitors were all native-born
Americans. I guess I convinced my future employer by fully presenting myself,
including my education, experience, vision, and even my disposition.
Fiona: Would you like to share
with us some administrative experience in the past? What kind of leadership
style do you have?
Dr. Wang: I have been
assuming quite a few leadership roles in and out of my institute since I
started career. My most significant administrative experience came from the
Intensive English Program that I established with my colleagues. As a language
teacher, I had always wanted to create a program to help international students
succeed in American universities. We built everything from scratch. As the
founding director, I was involved in every aspect of the program establishment,
including budgeting, teacher hiring and evaluation, and student recruiting and
advising. That experience provided me with valuable firsthand knowledge as an
administrator. As a result, we had quite a success for the first year and the
program kept growing thereafter.
As for my leadership style,
my goal is to assemble a well-balanced combination of leadership skills. I would tailor my management strategies according
to the situation and the individuals involved. I believe in democracy and
open-communication, but when necessary, I can be decisive and tough.
Fiona: Speaking of tough
situations, what would you do if a senior faculty doesn’t listen to you or
acknowledge the goals you’ve set for the team?
Dr. Wang: This is a fairly
common question with no fixed answer, given that every circumstance is unique. Changes
can bring problems and conflicts to certain people. If a senior faculty
disagrees with me, first I would try to understand his/her perspective by
listening, to see if there is a common ground. I would also seek alliance and
support from others, or tackle the issue from a different angle. In the worst
case when nothing works, you will have to deal with it straightforwardly. i.e.,
firing that person (if I can!) or just leaving him alone. Either way, I will
make sure I document every step.
Fiona: Yes, keep the
documentation. What do you think is the most important element for a group of
people, who are largely autonomous with respect to their financial and
professional status, to function as a team?
Dr. Wang: It’s apparently
challenging to lead a group of professors, especially when they are literally
from all over the world. Collegiality is the element that I will strive to
cultivate and maintain for the department.
I will set up commonly-shared goals, transparent decision-making
process, and sound mentorship, to name a few. I imagine the whole department as
a ship where everyone is in the right position. They don’t have to work with
each other daily, but as long as everyone is doing his/her job, the ship will
be moving forward.
Fiona: On staff
recruitment and tenure promotion, will you hire additional faculty in the next
five years to open up new areas, strength the existing, or simply replace the
to-be-retired? How would you plan to help young faculty reach the tenure
criteria?
Dr. Wang: I do have a few
plans to expand existing programs and establish new ones. For example, I will
expand the minor in Chinese Language and create a minor in Asian Studies and
Japanese. I also hope to build a joint graduate
program with other departments. I intend to hire more
tenure-track faculty to consolidate those programs.
Yes, I have plans for
assisting young faculty in their early career, both formally and informally. Mandatory
activity includes periodic observations, annual evaluations, third-year reviews,
etc., which will be put in handbooks. Informal ones may come from diverse sources,
such as peer-mentoring, external mentoring, and university-sponsored workshops.
I will form a mentoring group and a supporting “net” for every new hire and make
sure no one’s left out.
Fiona: “Glass Ceiling” is
a frequent complaint we hear from Chinese faculty in the western societies,
especially male. What are the obstacles you’ve observed on their way of
pursuing an administrative career? What kind of skills they should try to
consciously acquire for this purpose?
Dr. Wang: I actually hit my
“Glass Ceiling” at my previous institute and have been struggling for a while before
I got the current offer. In my case, I don’t think it had anything to do with
me being a Chinese male, but certain obstacles, such as gender, race, or
seniority, do exist for many of us. For me, I got caught up with the administrative
transition.
We may not change things
that are out of our control, but we can always improve ourselves. Unlike many
Chinese professors who focus on research and scholarships, I enjoy teaching and
working with people. I have been purposefully polishing my skills in
communication, socialization, and public speaking ever since I came here. Those
efforts may not guarantee an administrative career, but they made me better at
what I do. I know my limits and exactly what I wanted. I work hard along my
career path, not for the glory of the destination but for the joy of the
journey itself.
Fiona: Thank you very
much, Dr. Wang! Please remember to come back and share with us your new
experience as you climb up the hills. And enjoy the hiking, just as you said!
