Dr Tan Wee Liang joined SMU in 1999 as a member of the Core Planning Team of the then new university, SMU, when he developed the predecessor offices of the present day Office of Student Life and Office of Career Services. He joined academe beginning his career with the Faculty of Accountancy and Business Administration at the National University of Singapore in 1985. Prior to SMU, he had served as sub-dean, vice-dean and director of the Entrepreneurship Development Centre at NTU.