When we newly took over American Polytechnic College (Cao Đẳng Việt Mỹ) and Broward College, we worked with Dr. Le Thi Thanh, who was the principal of the school. She holds a doctorate in literature from the University of Massachusetts. She is one of the very rare people in Vietnam holding a doctorate in literature from the US. She was erudite, courteous, gentle, and very caring toward students.
Back then, applying for the license for Broward College in Vietnam was an arduous process. On cold, rainy days, Ms. Thanh together with her assistant flew back and forth like a shuttle between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to work with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to apply for the license. On some days in Hanoi, the two of them stood shivering in the cold, both hungry and cold, yet having to meet leaders of the Ministry at all costs to explain and persuade them to grant the license to open the Broward program.
Up to now, Broward College remains one of the very few university/college programs with the highest accreditation from the US licensed in Vietnam. Ms. Thanh’s contribution was immense. If Broward College later becomes a major university in Vietnam, Dr. Thanh is truly a “founding merit officer.”
In the very first week of the takeover, she proactively invited me to talk. She held my hand. Her hand was small and thin. Tears welling in her eyes, she said: “I hope and believe you all are talented and decent people. You will build American Polytechnic College and Broward College to success. This is the dream and dedication of many people. Therefore, I hope you will succeed.”
And she committed: “I will help you transfer the work well. Whomever you need me to persuade to stay, I will do; if you need me to recruit teachers or offer any support, I will help; if you need me to teach part-time, I will also teach. After the transfer is complete, find someone to replace me so I can rest, as I am getting old. I fear slowing down your work. You all are too fast, while I cannot be as fast as you. You will think differently from me. My staying until now was only for my honor; I could not leave when the school had not transferred stably and until there was someone capable of taking my place.”
After that, all our reform and restructuring activities for American Polytechnic College and Broward College—many times done very drastically, very quickly, and many times “forgetting” to consult her—she supported all of them. Among those were very major actions such as reducing salaries, cutting compensation packages for senior leaders, and at the same time requiring school leadership to report regularly. For “grand intellectuals” of the “old” style, this would be unacceptable. But as for her, she agreed to everything without a single word of complaint or blame.
After 6 months, together we found a candidate for the principal position. We asked her to talk with them, and then asked for her opinion. She said she fully supported and trusted them. Afterwards, the transfer process took place very smoothly and pleasantly. She moved to a larger school, also holding an important position.
As someone who had been attached to Broward College Vietnam and American Polytechnic College for nearly 15 years, she resigned without demanding a send-off ceremony, parties, or praise. She only met with the faculty members to say goodbye in silence. She did not want her departure to disrupt the teaching activities of the school.
Now, we no longer manage Broward College nor American Polytechnic College. The current generation of leaders is doing very well in managing, operating, and developing the school. That is the forest growing from the seeds that she cultivated from previous years.
Whenever I think about Dr. Le Thi Thanh, I always admire her character and attitude. She was proud but not obstinate. She had great merits but made no demands. She understood her historical role and knew the right time to stop, for the students, and for the development of the school. American Polytechnic College, Broward College, and we personally will always owe Ms. Thanh a great debt of gratitude.
(Written on the occasion of the Hoa Sen University event and remembering the moment of power transfer at Broward College/American Polytechnic College)
Nguyen Quoc Toan
