Normandale Community College Interim President Pakou Yang began her appointment today on June 4, 2025.
Dr. Yang is succeeding Dr. Joyce Ester who served as Normandale’s president from August 2014 to June 3, 2025, and was recently appointed president of Governors State University in Illinois.
“I am excited to serve as the Interim President of Normandale Community College,” said Dr. Yang. “I look forward to continuing all of the great work that has been done at the college, and working alongside all of the faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and community members to achieve our strategic goals. It is a great time to be joining the Normandale community, and I am deeply committed to leading and contributing as we continue to be a driver of college access, student success and innovation, and meeting workforce and community needs.”
Dr. Yang previously served as provost and vice president of academic and student affairs at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minn. from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that position, she was the vice president of student affairs and enrollment management at Century from 2018-2021. She also served as an academic dean from 2008-2014 for the division of behavioral and social science, communication, physical education and health, humanities, and the translation and interpreting program at Century, and was a full-time tenured communication instructor from 2003-2008.
In her role as provost and vice president of student and academic affairs at Century, she worked to increase student success and narrow equity gaps through data-driven, evidence-based practices and strategies. Dr. Yang implemented a comprehensive approach to recruitment and retention across academic and student affairs, which maintained or grew enrollment at the college during her tenure. She has also supported innovations in academic programs, delivery models, and strategic scheduling.
As the vice president of the student affairs division, Dr. Yang provided leadership to maintain academic continuity for all student affairs operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also led the student affairs division to implement new strategies, best practices, and measurable outcomes focused on holistic student development.
Dr. Yang served as system director for P-20 and college readiness at the Minnesota State system office from 2014-2018, where she provided leadership on systemwide positions, policies, procedures, and legislative actions regarding issues pertaining to dual enrollment, admissions, college access, course placement, developmental education, and K-12 higher education alignment.
“Because of the secret war in Laos, my parents fled from Laos to Thailand. I was born in a refugee camp,” said Dr. Yang. “We then immigrated to the United States when I was 2-years-old. My parents and I came to Minnesota with nothing on our backs, but hopes and dreams. I learned English, I grew up in low-income neighborhoods, and I navigated all the various systems (e.g., education, healthcare, social services, etc.) in Minnesota. Because of my lived experiences, I am deeply passionate about and committed to increasing college access and strengthening student success and college completion for all students. Today, I am a proud member of Minnesota State. And I humbly step into the interim position at Normandale Community College.”
National and statewide recognition Dr. Yang has received includes the Leadership Excellence Award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (2024), the Teaching Excellence Award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (2007), and the Melvin H. Miller Award for Outstanding Service from the Department of Communication, University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Yang holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, a master’s from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
She becomes the seventh individual to serve as president/interim president of Normandale joining Dale Lorenz, Dan Barnett (interim), Tom Horak, Katherine Hiyane-Brown, Bernie Bryant (interim), Joe Opatz and Dr. Joyce Ester.
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