As you walk around our campus, you often catch glimpses of her: the figure who seamlessly moves from one location to another, her presence a constant at numerous events. She greets you with a warm smile, engages in conversations about academic hurdles, invites you to get in one of her acclaimed selfies, and eloquently discusses the plethora of resources designed to aid students and faculty in flourishing. In the midst of all this, you might ask yourself: Who is Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang, and what exactly does she do as the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs of Hostos Community College? To answer that, let’s embark on a journey through her life.
Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang in her office at Hostos’ B-building, located on the fourth floor.
Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang's path into the world of academia is rooted deeply in her upbringing in Taiwan, where she was raised in a family that held education in the highest regard. For them, education was not just a pursuit of knowledge; it was seen as the sole pathway to a better life.
This deep-seated belief, instilled in her from a young age, became her guiding force. She has not only pursued educational excellence in her own career but has also passionately dedicated herself to fostering educational opportunities for others. Her commitment extends across various college systems in the United States, where she has worked tirelessly to ensure that the transformative power of education in which she so deeply believes is accessible to all.
“I grew up in a family where education was the universal path to social mobility and a brighter future. This deeply influenced me, leading me to pursue my college degree and then grad school. It was during my graduate studies that I met an exceptional faculty mentor who introduced me to a broader academic world,” she said. “She brought me to the United States and introduced me to her advisor at the University of Georgia (UGA). That profoundly impacted me. Returning to Taiwan, I found myself at a crossroads, contemplating my future. Inspired by what I saw in Georgia, I decided to apply for a doctorate at UGA. Not only was I accepted, but I also had the unique opportunity to study under the same faculty advisor as my mentor. It was a full circle.”
Provost Wang having a conversation with Hostos Nursing student Jahneilia Curtin on the bridge.
Upon completing her doctorate in Educational Technology at UGA, Dr. Wang received a faculty job offer from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). This position not only acknowledged her academic achievements and expertise in her field but also provided her with a platform to further her passion for educational technology and jumpstart her path in higher ed administration.
“I was happy as a faculty member because you are at the front line of change, supporting students directly, and that is always very satisfying and fulfilling to me. However, after ten years of teaching, the Dean of the School of Education at the time asked me if I wanted to be interim chair of my department for about half a year. And I said yes!”
Rising Through the Ranks
At NYIT, Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang successfully implemented a series of impactful changes to support faculty career development as a chair, earning the admiration and recognition of both the dean and the provost. Her remarkable achievements and leadership qualities shone brightly, leading to her being offered the dean's position upon his retirement. This marked the beginning of Dr. Wang's rise in higher education administration, setting her on a path of successful career growth.
Dr. Wang (right) as Associate Dean of Education at NYIT. She is joined by her NYIT colleague Hui-Yin Hsu, Ph.D. (left)
While Dr. Wang led the way at NYIT, she created a fresh method to evaluate and admit students, which was so effective that they earned top national accreditations for all their programs. Thanks to her efforts, NYIT's online courses continued to be ranked among the top 25 by U.S. News for Best Online Graduate Education Programs. She launched new programs and certifications specifically designed to meet the needs of local employers, resulting in a significant 35% increase in student enrollment.
After a fruitful 15-year tenure at NYIT, a private institution, Dr. Wang turned her sights towards Queensborough Community College (QCC), where she stepped into the role of Dean of Research. She was drawn to the CUNY system, which, as a public system, offered extensive connections with government agencies, the community, and a larger budget to support her innovation plans. During her two years at QCC, she focused on assisting faculty in securing grants, bolstering their research agendas, and leading the QCC team to obtain their first-ever Title V grant.
Subsequently, a colleague of hers from CUNY, who had moved to the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) system, invited Dr. Wang to explore an opportunity in the Windy City. This system, akin to CUNY but with only seven campuses, presented a new horizon. Considering her family ties in Chicago, Dr. Wang decided to seize the opportunity, leading to her appointment as the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at CCC’s Harold Washington College (HWC).
“My transition into that role was such a huge change… I had so much to learn. But I am glad I did because it was there that I began to grasp better how to support diverse student bodies,” she recounted.
During her time at HWC she navigated a major career transition, adeptly managing both academic and student affairs. This period was instrumental in deepening her understanding of supporting primarily Hispanic and Black students while leveraging her research background to obtain multiple institutional grants to boost the faculty’s portfolios.
Simultaneously, she oversaw HWC’s Center for Excellence in Business, where she enhanced her collaborative skills with the government and business sectors. When she learned of the opportunity to serve as Provost at Hostos, she found that Hostos, just like HWC, is a mission-oriented institution supporting a diverse student population. Thanks to President Daisy Cocco De Filippis' support, she became Provost at Hostos. The student demographics at Hostos resonated with her experience at CCC, positioning her to contribute significantly to the South Bronx community.
Utilizing Her Diverse Expertise for Hostos' Advancement
“A provost is the one who helps you accomplish your academic goals. I work with the faculty and a group of staff to support students in their learning process. That's what I do. On top of that, I maintain the quality of the programs, support research initiatives, and provide strategic leadership and a strategic vision for everyone involved in the teaching and learning environment at Hostos,” said Dr. Wang when asked to state clearly what her role entails.
Dr. Wang takes a selfie with Hostos colleagues and students at the Hostos Student Symposium.
Clearly, the position of Provost is multifaceted, involving numerous responsibilities such as leading academic and strategic initiatives, shaping academic policies, and overseeing various programs and services. This includes management of degree programs and faculty resources, ensuring the sustainability of library services, and many other duties.
The Provost tackles all her responsibilities guided by constructivism as her educational philosophy.
“I always ask what it is that the students need to remain inspired, and make sure that I create that environment where they can explore and find solutions to problems and challenges of everyday life,” she indicated. “I believe in the constructivist process in which students are meant to be actively learning skills and gaining knowledge in their discipline, but also learning a lot of important, essential, and soft skills that they can apply in the future, in their lives, and in the workforce.”
Hostos Community College is an institution steeped in rich history and traditions, and Dr. Wang quickly recognized that to implement new initiatives and truly grasp the spirit of the school, she needed to learn from the collective wisdom and institutional knowledge of the entire Hostos community. By engaging with faculty, staff, and students, Dr. Wang has been able to not only appreciate the unique culture and legacy of the College but also to incorporate this understanding into her leadership approach, ensuring that any new developments align with the core values and spirit of the College.
“Our President Daisy Cocco De Filippis was the Provost and Senior Vice President here already, and that helped me a lot. She shared the history of the College upon my arrival and the initiatives that she implemented while she was here. That was very helpful because now, whenever I want to implement a new initiative, I go to the faculty and staff, learn from their institutional knowledge, and spend time talking and listening to them. People here are very wise, so their observations are very important to me. That also helped me understand the students that we serve. So, I talk to people first, and then, through collaboration with all stakeholders –chairs, vice presidents, etc.– we start building stuff up.”
Despite the wealth of knowledge and insights Dr. Wang has gained from her time at Hostos, her journey has not been without its challenges.
“One of the first things I discovered upon joining Hostos is the depth of an equity gap. For example, male black students have the lowest retention rate, and female students have the lowest starting salaries. There are so many factors affecting students' learning experiences,” she stressed. “In the face of that, we are really fortunate that we have increased our enrollment. Now, it is all about sustaining that increase but also keeping students engaged until they graduate. That's when I began focusing on working collaboratively to figure out the best course of action.”
Dr. Wang, in collaboration with her team, has completed a detailed five-year
implementation plan in alignment with the College's broader
Hostos: Elevating Justice, Our Strategic Plan, 2023–2028. It focuses on three main areas: developing the curriculum, encouraging innovation, and enhancing teaching quality. The plan includes a variety of specific activities and strategies to achieve these goals. The Hostos community will receive periodic updates about the progress of each initiative upon completion of meticulous assessments to evaluate the impact of each strategy.
Another challenge that Dr. Wang has enthusiastically addressed is the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on the higher education landscape. Recognizing the need for a structured approach to this technological advancement, by the end of Fall 2023, she had diligently collaborated with Associate Dean Fabrizio, Dr. Jacqueline DiSanto, Chair of the Education Department, and Center of Teaching and Learning to develop a series of statements for inclusion in
course syllabi. These statements are diverse, catering to different stances on AI use: one for those inclined to fully integrate AI into their coursework, another for those preferring not to use it at all, and an additional statement designed for those who wish to incorporate AI in a more limited or conditional capacity.
This thoughtful approach is an example of not only acknowledging the value of innovation in the realm of AI in higher ed but also preserving and respecting the rich traditions of educational methodologies and ethics already in place at Hostos.
A Message to Hostos Students
Provost Wang engaging with student leaders at the Student Government Association booth on C-building’s third floor.
Guided by her accomplishments and visionary leadership for Hostos, Provost Wang seized the opportunity to share a message with those aspiring to have careers in higher education administration.
“Uphold yourself to the highest ethical standards; that's the number one rule of being a leader. You lead by example, so you have to both model and demonstrate integrity. Secondly, you need to have a passion for education and be willing to recognize that people have their strengths and weaknesses,” she added. “Patience and persistence will be your key to success.”
In addition to her guidance for aspiring higher education administrators, she also directed a message to all Hostos students, underscoring the critical importance of voicing their needs.
“I encourage all students to share their unique challenges with us. There are so many resources available to our students that we just need all of them to know that we are here to help them with whatever is challenging at the moment. We want what's best for our students and want to see them thrive. Help us navigate the challenges with you. The sooner, the better,” she concluded.
After the conversation, Provost Wang promptly returned to her desk, where her computer, buzzing with a steady stream of email notifications, clamored for her attention. Undeterred, she dove straight back into her work, continuing her dedicated service to Hostos.