Obituary

CAM-HUONG NGUYEN-DANG

EDUCATION:
• 1964 - Graduated from University of Saigon – Faculty of Pedagogy – English School
• 1977 - Graduated from the Seattle I. University – Masters of Business Administration

HER SERVICES AS ADMINISTRATOR & EDUCATOR IN VIETNAM:
• MINISTRY of EDUCATION in SAIGON:
* 1965: Chief of Bureau for Student Liaison in Saigon and Vicinity.
* 1966: Director of School Youth Activities – Vice President of CPS – Programs to support Student activities and provide Visions & Directions for HS & University students in the 22 provinces in South Viet Nam.
* 1967-1968: Special Assistant to the Minister of Education in charge of the Ministry Protocol and the National School Youth Activities.
• 1968-1975: Senior High Teacher of English at:
* Gia-Long Girls’ Public High School in the mornings.
* Private High Schools: Hung Dao & Nguyen Ba Tong in the afternoons.
* Vietnamese & American Association in the evenings, preparing students and officials for their studies & tours in the United States, England, or Australia.

FAMILY LIFE & VALUES:
• Married in 1968, and mother of 5 children: Nam-Phuong Ba Dang, Phuong-Anh Ba Dang, Anh-Viet Ba Dang, Viet-Nam Ba Dang, and Y-Nhi Ba Dang.
• Embarked on Journey to Freedom, and settled in Washington State in September, 1975, with their five children, their age ranging from 1 to 5 years old. Their son, Viet-Nam Ba Dang wrote in “My Story” for the NW Asian Weekly: “I would like to say “Thank You” to my parents who gave up so much, who sacrificed a lot for us, kept us together and well and especially never gave in in their efforts to keep the native language and tradition alive for us. Because they lavish their unconditional love to us, instill the love of education in us, support us, and try all they can to be there for us at every step of our lives, we unfold and blossom – we have become successful contributors to this society.”
* Showing her gratitude to this country for the gifts of Freedom and Opportunity, and to the American people for their gifts of generosity and warm friendships, Mrs. DANG has constantly worked hard, for 35 years, to help and serve the Washington College students and the Seattle communities. And, together with her husband, she has successfully raised their five children. They all currently become successful contributors to the Washington State Community.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES & CONTRIBUTION in WASHINGTON

• SSCC Director of Diversity Center (1995-1998), instrumental in the writing of the first South Seattle Community College Diversity Plan, and getting the campus population to recognize, understand and appreciate the wealth and values of multiculturalism.
• University of Washington-Burke Museum “Pacific Voices” Advisory Board Member – establishing the Vietnamese Ancestral Alter for the Exhibit, and writing the “Vietnamese Incense Burner-Vehicle for Carrying Prayers” Chapter of the “Pacific Voices-Keeping Our Cultures Alive” Book published by the University of Washington Press (1996).
• Board member of the Asian Counseling & Referral Services (1992-1995), the ORIA State Advisory Council (1987-1996), and the American Pacific University (2005-2008)


HER SERVICES AS AN EDUCATOR IN WASHINGTON COLLEGES:

• President of the Seattle Community College District Board of Trustees, Dr, Don Root, said at June 28th, 2008 South Seattle Collge Commencement when presenting the Professor Emeritus Status to her:
* “Cam-Huong Rose Dang came to South Seattle CC in 1977, following her working as a Student Advisor and teaching ESL at Highline CC, and Fort Steilacoom CC since 1975.
* “In the course of 32 years at South Campus, first as the English as a Second Language Program Faculty Manager, then Director of the Diversity Center, and the East Asian Studies Program Coordinator – and simultaneously teaching English Writing to the International Students, Rose received:
-1993 - The “Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement” Award,
- 1995 - The Nordstrom/Seattle Times “Salute to Diversity” Award,
- 2000 - The Northwest Asian Weekly “The Washington State Living Asian American Pioneer in Education” Award, and
- 2002 -the NISOD “Excellence in Teaching and Leadership” Award.
* “The legacy she leaves at South is three-fold: a/ The establishment of the ESL Program for Immigrants and Refugees since 1975, b/ the launching of the College Diversity Services since 1995, and c/ the development of the First- and Second-Year Vietnamese Language Program since 2001.”
* “As Don Bissonnette, Roger Bourret, and 25 other Basic & Transition Studies faculty who nominated her for the Emeritus status noted: ‘The professional leadership and inspiration she provided to all of us who worked with her and especially to her beloved students whom she touched so greatly is impossible to put into words. Without a doubt, there have been very few people in the history of this College District who have contributed so much for so long to so many.”
• Dean of Basic and Transition Studies, Dr. Suzanne Griffin said: “In many ways, Rose Dang exemplifies South Seattle’s reputation as a College with a heart. She is one of the people who helped make it the kind of place that it has come to be.”
• Dean of Academic Programs, Frank Post affirmed: “Rose Dang is everything that is good about South Seattle CC. She embodies the spirit and hope that exists at the College. Her work here goes unheralded, as that is what she is about. She is about doing what is right to help students learn. She is about fairness and integrity. But most of all, Rose is about love of education.”
• SSCC President & SCCD Chancellor, Dr. Jill Wakefield said at her Retirement Party in 2008: “You showed each of us what a teacher/professor should do – professional, caring, prepared, and involved in the students’ lives. You always gave so much of yourself. You showed me how I could be a better leader. You showed us the importance of working with the communities outside the College walls; the evidence was the great partnerships we enjoy throughout this State and the nation. SSCC is a better place because of you – our students are better prepared for jobs, life and higher education, and you leave a wonderful legacy that won’t go away.”