Building a College One Table at a Time
As Southeast Community College continues its evolution as a leader in workforce development across Southeast Nebraska and beyond, Dr. Paul Illich finds himself drawn to his workshop. There he shuts out the stressors of the day as he takes a piece of raw timber and repurposes it into something functional like a live edge table.
The methodical process of wood working is similar to transforming a college. The beauty of both endeavors emerges from working with the natural strengths already present and waiting to reveal its potential through meticulous plans and unwavering dedication.
“I think there is an overlap between work and life balance and I like that aspect of woodworking,” Illich said. “Irrespective of what your work is, I think it is very important to carve out some time to be creative. For me, it allows me to relieve stress and think more creatively about issues at work like a construction project or financing. I see the issues differently.”
Illich was named the fourth SCC president on July 1, 2014, after serving as vice president of research, planning and information at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. A visionary leader, he believes in data-driven decision making and the value of creating a culture of opportunity, creativity and intellectual, and personal respect. It is why one of the first things he did when he arrived on campus was to implement the College’s first Strategic Plan.
“We have been on a transformative journey since the launch of our first strategic plan in 2015,” he said. “Over the past decade we have been focused on expanding our capacity to produce a skilled workforce and ensuring everyone within our service area has access to the extraordinary value of higher education.”
Being the president of a college requires the same attention to detail Illich brings to his woodworking. It is important the college have the infrastructure to support and meet the needs of the academic programs, local employers and industry partners. Very similar to crafting a table, strategically planning college operations creates an educational system as sturdy and purposeful as a well-crafted piece of furniture.
“I actually think my woodworking is very much connected to my work,” Illich said. “Transforming anything is an investment. A lot of the tables I build are given the opportunity to be repurposed. Community colleges also give you the opportunity to rethink and maybe try again. It is fun to build things and have that sense of accomplishment. You can see it. It’s tangible and it’s ready for the next journey.”
Since Illich’s arrival at SCC, the College has added 40 academic programs and awards, had two successful accreditation reviews, converted the college calendar from quarter to semester, and opened six learning centers across the 15-county area. In addition, he has overseen the construction of 10 new buildings on the Beatrice, Lincoln, and Milford campuses as well as eight renovations.
Illich has built approximately 15 live edge tables or countertops installed in new buildings and renovated areas on all three campuses. This includes three tables in the Sandhills Global Technology Center.
“I like all my projects for different reasons but the tables in Sandhills Global has been my favorite so far,” Illich explained. “The reason is because there were so many collaborators involved to complete it. The welding faculty jumped in and worked with multiple welding students to make the bases. Our maintenance folks helped move the pieces from the mill to my shop. The architects designed the walls behind the tables to make sure there was enough support to anchor them so they don’t fall over. One of the welding students backlit the tables. There were a lot of people involved and that made this project special.”
Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu