Her Story
About Marlise
Marlise Witham serves as Director of Storm Lake's Iowa Central Community College. She has spent over 30 years in the education field, initially landing on education after exploring various majors in college because she wanted to be of service. Her career has focused on supporting ELL and at-risk students, and she now works to make education accessible, helping students overcome barriers to achieve their goals. Witham earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education with an emphasis in music from Kansas State University. She later obtained a master's degree in educational administration and another in special education, along with an endorsement for English language learners. Following the quarantine period, she earned a certificate in blended flipped education. In addition to her directorial role, she engages in adjunct work teaching future TESOL teachers at a university. She attributes her success to entering each day with an openness to learn and grow, trying to do her best and give to others while recognizing that nobody has everything figured out. Witham advises young women entering the field not to be afraid, noting that her own path has worked out despite feeling she should not be where she is. She volunteers at her child's school and occasionally subs in an adult language learners program at work. Her values center on the belief that everyone has something to learn from and give to one another.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marlise
01What do you attribute your success to?
I enter each day trying to do my best, and trying to see what I can give to others. And just having an openness. I don't have it all figured out yet but giving with that imperfection that I can learn and grow and that you and I are both giving and receiving from each other. I learn the most from people who are very different from me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Nobody has it completely figured out, so it's okay to stumble a little, as long as you're still trying and improving and growing. That it's never going to be perfection, but isn't that what the greatest works of art are? There's all of our little imperfections sewn together.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid. I'm small, with big fuzzy hair, and I absolutely should not be where I am right now, but it's kind of worked out for me, so it probably will for you, too.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I'm fairly new in my role, so the idea that I can grow and increase enrollment, work on retention, and that is a challenge, just retention of students, helping them overcome barriers. A lot of our students are also parents. They may be working a job full-time, so just persistence. It's tough. The fatigue is real. And encouraging and helping them overcome. And many are new to the community themselves, so finding resources, letting them know that we're here to support them.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think that I have someone something to learn from everyone. And if you look at life as everybody's doing the best they can, and they have something to give, and I have something to give to you, and I have something to gain from you. So came that open mind that we're all learners.
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