{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EP167: The Future of Community Colleges: Leadership, Funding, and Student Success | Jee Hang Lee","description":"In this episode of In The Margins, Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, host of Discovering Your Mission, sits down with Jee Hang Lee, President and CEO of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), for a timely and unfiltered conversation on the future of community colleges, leadership, and student success. Drawing from his journey from Capitol Hill to leading one of the most influential organizations in higher education, Lee shares a national perspective on the growing pressures facing community colleges, from funding uncertainty and political complexity to increasing competition across the education landscape. He challenges leaders to rethink how institutions define value, emphasizing that programs must translate into real economic opportunity for students. Their conversation dives deep into what separates high-performing governing boards, the evolving role of college presidents, and why leadership today requires far more than academic expertise. Lee also unpacks the importance of long-term strategic thinking, workforce alignment, and building systems that truly support students, especially those navigating complex life circumstances. At its core, this episode is a call to action: for leaders to stay mission-driven, think systemically, and ensure that community colleges remain not just a point of access but a pathway to lasting success. KEY POINTS: Jee Hang Lee\u2019s journey from public policy to leading ACCT and advocating for community colleges The growing pressure to prove the economic value of higher education programs in a post-pandemic world Why community college programs must align with real wages and workforce outcomes The shift toward stackable learning and incremental education pathways for modern students The 3 core governance principles (duty of care, loyalty, obedience) that define high-performing boards How funding instability and state-level decisions are reshaping institutional strategy The expanding competition from four-year institutions entering workforce and associate degree spaces Why today\u2019s college presidents must operate as advocates, fundraisers, communicators, and crisis managers The importance of long-term strategic planning, including demographic shifts and enrollment pipelines Why community colleges may be the \u201cfirst and last door\u201d to higher education for many students Leadership requires a mission beyond compensation to sustain impact and longevity QUOTABLES: \u201cWe have to do a better job of showcasing the earning potential\u2026 and really showcase that there is substantive value for our students.\u201d \u2013 Jee Hang Lee   \u201cPolitics has always\u2026 permeated public institutions of higher education.\u201d \u2013 Jee Hang Lee   \u201cYou have to have a grounding of why you do your job.\u201d \u2013 Jee Hang Lee   \u201cProviding that opportunity to build your educational platform\u2026 is something that we should be focusing on.\u201d   \u2013 Jee Hang Lee GUEST RESOURCES: Jee Hang Lee | ACCT ItsDrMordecai.com - Official Website of Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:   LinkedIn: https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/The-EDU-Ledger X\/Twitter: https:\/\/x.com\/TheEDULedger Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheEDULedger Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/TheEDULedger Threads: https:\/\/www.threads.com\/@TheEDULedger Bluesky: https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/TheEDULedger.bsky.social   WATCH THIS VIDEO AND OTHERS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@TheEDULedger   Closed captioning and a live show transcription are available in the video for this episode.   In The Margins is produced by The EDU Ledger and edited by EPYC Media Network (visit at https:\/\/www.epyc.co\/). ","author_name":"In The Margins","author_url":"http:\/\/diverseeducation.libsyn.com\/website","html":"