[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING DR. MARGARET ``PEG'' BURKE LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 2015

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Margaret 
``Peg'' Burke Lee for her distinct service to the people of the 9th 
Congressional District of Illinois and Oakton Community College. Dr. 
Lee will be retiring in June of this year, and I would like to 
congratulate her on 30 years of commitment to our community.
  Since Dr. Lee became vice president of academic affairs at Oakton 
Community College in 1985, her achievements have captured national 
recognition for the College while serving 450,000 residents in 16 
municipalities--including a salute by The New York Times recognizing 
Oakton as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation. Dr. Lee's 
commitment and contributions to education and Oakton are immeasurable. 
She has been recognized by college staff members and community members 
as a relationship builder inside and outside of the college community, 
a legacy she is proud to share.
  Dr. Lee was named one of the ``Most Powerful and Influential Women of 
Illinois'' by the National Diversity Council in 2012. In March 2011, 
Holy Family Medical Center honored her with its second annual 
C.A.R.E.S. Award for exemplifying Resurrection Health Care's Core 
Values: compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service.
  Dr. Lee has contributed to multiple educational events across the 
world, including in China, Netherlands, Thailand, and Spain. She was 
part of a diplomatic delegation to India where she traveled with Under 
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes 
and five other college and University presidents to build bridges to 
American higher education through meetings with government, university, 
and business leaders. In addition, Dr. Lee is the author of several 
monographs on global education in community colleges and the critical 
role of language learning in developing cultural competence.
  Dr. Lee holds a doctorate and a master's degree in English language 
and literature from the University of Chicago, where she was a Ford 
Foundation Fellow in the Humanities and a Woodrow Wilson Dissertation 
Scholar in Women's Studies. At the age of 17, she spent 8 years as a 
nun, a perspective and experience that she brought to her role as a 
college administrator. She has always taught with compassion and 
enthusiasm throughout her career to help those most in need. Dr. Lee is 
known to go above and beyond to improve the quality of life in the 
community and she has touched the lives of many people through her 
commitment to providing innovative educational programs at the college.
  In January, the Margaret Burke Lee Science and Health Careers Center 
opened on Oakton Community College's Des Plaines campus. It is home to 
Oakton's anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth science, 
medical laboratory technology, nursing, physics, and physical therapy 
assistant programs. Dr. Lee's legacy will continue at Oakton not only 
through this new facility, but through the fabric of Oakton Community 
College. After she announced her retirement, dozens of posts were made 
on Facebook demonstrating how much she is loved by the people she 
mentored over the past 30 years.
  I want to sincerely congratulate Dr. Lee for everything she has 
accomplished at Oakton Community College and for the people of the 9th 
Congressional District of Illinois. Your legacy will live on and will 
never be forgotten. May you enjoy this new chapter in your life 
including additional time you can spend with your nine children and 14 
grandchildren.

                          ____________________