At work for UC Merced
Modesto Bee 4/2/07
"It made an impression on my mind that will be with me probably until I die. He overcame his life as a poor boy and became a lawyer and president of the United States," Kang said. "It gave me hope, that if I have a goal, hope, a good dream, I can achieve it."
Kang conquered many obstacles to obtain a college degree. It's something his students can relate to.
In his office on a recent afternoon, Kang, 62, sat down to talk about his first few weeks as chancellor at the University of California at Merced, his childhood in South Korea, his move to the United States, and goals for the developing campus.
Kang's décor includes a photo of UC Merced's mascot, Boomer the Bobcat, NASA coffee mugs and one of his diplomas.
Kang (pronounced "Kahng") became the university's second chancellor March 1. As part of meet-and-greet tours of the Central Valley, Kang stops in Modesto today to introduce himself and form partnerships with area movers and shakers.
The responsibility of leading UC Merced through its formative years has not escaped Kang. He's spent his first weeks shaking as many hands as possible.
Twelve-hour days are the norm. Just last week, Kang attended meetings with each of UC Merced's schools and departments, its faculty senate, legislators in Sacramento, and student events on campus and in Santa Clara and Sacramento.
Kang also attended the UC Board of Regents meeting in Los Angeles, UC Council of Chancellors in Oakland, receptions and luncheons.
At each event, Kang emphasizes his past and how he'll use his experience to relate to UC Merced's student body, filled with first-generation college students, many of whom are from low-income families.
"This is an underserved area with high financial need," Kang said. "I truly want to share these goals, dreams … to give (students) encouragement."
Growing enrollment his priority
After coming to the United States on a college scholarship and earning advanced degrees in engineering, Kang settled in at UC Santa Cruz, where he expanded a young engineering program. Kang's co-workers praised his modesty, focus and determination.
Under Kang's six-year tenure, the school added three departments — information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology — and the number of faculty more than tripled, from 25 to 79.
UC officials are counting on Kang to do the same at UC Merced. His priority is increasing the university's enrollment, and fast.
"The UC budget is tight due to lack of support from the state government," Kang said. "We need more students, but we can't get them if we don't have classrooms."
Modesto's Odessa Johnson sits on the UC Board of Regents and was on the chancellor search committee. The retired educator said she expects Kang and UC Merced to play a key role in promoting education.
"He's the engine that is going to help drive future economic growth in the valley," Johnson said. "He'll be developing partnership programs to increase the college-going rate. People have to have the name of your place on the tip of their tongue."
A big selling point for UC Merced is its faculty and smaller class sizes. Undergraduate students rarely have the opportunity to work on research projects, but those chances are abundant at UC Merced, Kang said.
"Student enrollment will expand when they are attracted to our curriculum," Kang said. "I want to keep recruiting outside faculty. They are the ones which create new majors."
He pointed out that other schools fared worse in attracting students in their early years. In its second year, UC Merced has 1,300 students.
The biotechnology niche
To attract students in the long term, Kang said the university needs to excel in a niche market. Administrators are narrowing their sights on biomedical technology.
Along the same line of attracting students to a developing university in a rural setting is finding qualified, top-notch students.
Kang said he's serious about increasing conversations between Central Valley elementary, middle and high school administrators to ensure high school graduates can perform at the college level.
Lee Andersen, Merced County superintendent, applauded Kang's open and relaxed communication style.
"I hope he continues UC Merced's outreach efforts," Andersen said. "Also, we in K-12 and community colleges need to do more, improve our programs, so we're graduating more students who are qualified for the UC system."
One of UC Merced's partnerships opens campus research projects to middleand high-school teachers and students a few times a year.
What to do about alcohol?
As UC Merced grows, trouble pops up. Underage drinking forced itself onto Kang's radar two weeks ago when an 18-year-old student who had been drinking fell and died of a head injury. Hector Hugo Barrera-Barraza was UC Merced's first student death and shocked the small campus.
"Parents trust a university to, in a sense, take care of (their children), not only educationally but on a whole," Kang said about his grief over Barrera-Barraza's death. "… We're an educational institution. We're here not only to teach in an academic context, but also in a social skills, leadership context."
Administrators are discussing whether banning alcohol consumption on campus is the answer because some students already can legally drink. Right now, they're favoring an educational approach — talking to students about alcohol abuse, self-control and good habits, Kang said.
At 62, Kang realizes he's approaching retirement age. His contract is for five years and he said he plans on being UC Merced's leader at least that long.
"I'm going to stay as long as I think I can make a good contribution.
"We need to work with teachers in elementary, middle and high schools and community colleges. UC Merced is here to meet local needs. We need to build dreams in the hearts and minds of our youth."