Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
Mark Mitsui was recently appointed to a top post in the U.S. Department of Education. His title: Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges, Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE).
The Office administers and coordinates programs on adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges.
Its programs and grants support a wide range of activities. The goal: Help prepare young people and adults for higher education and eventually, successful careers. These investments’ yearly total is nearly $2 billion.
It has been a rewarding journey for Mitsui: former teacher, student affairs professional, administrator and president in the community college system.
Early in his career, he also served as a former college athletic director and as Seattle Community College District Athletics Commissioner he established equitable funding for men’s and women’s athletic teams.
Recently, enthusiastic educators and advocates engaged him in a serious conversation during a luncheon break in a higher education summit, held in the nation’s capital. He responded just as eagerly to their questions.
Actually, he had just arrived that morning from the Other Washington, needing caffeine more than conversation, as he took bites from his plate of salad, chicken and fish dish. Excitement filled the air at that luncheon table.
Track record
Mitsui’s colleagues knew that his extraordinary track record would serve him well in his new post.
President and Executive Director Neil Horikoshi of the Asian Pacific and Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) said in an interview: “Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated tremendous leadership in addressing the needs of diverse student populations, as well as creating programs that will help them succeed long-term as they move into careers.”
He added: “With the rapidly changing student populations at America’s community colleges, Mark’s experience leading Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions will serve him well as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges.”
Mitsui most recently served as the president of North Seattle Community College (NSCC). He started in his new post in August, brimming with dedication and energy.
“I am passionate about the transformative power and potential of a college education because of my family experience,” he said in subsequent interviews. “My parents went from American internment camps during World War II to an American college campus, and their journey changed the arc of their lives and mine.”
He added: “I am proud to be working in an administration, and for a department, that fully values the community colleges and the students they serve. The educational outcomes of these students are more important than ever for our country.”
The community colleges are the entry point to higher education for communities that have historically been under-represented in higher education. The community colleges play “a key role in putting these communities on a path to the middle class,” said Mitsui.
Mitsui and his wife Melanie drove from Washington State to Washington, D.C., taking in the sights across the country. It was a serendipitous move. The Mitsuis were basically “leaving an empty nest.” Their daughters Hailey and Emma are doing fine in their lives.
Bright future
Throughout his career, demonstrating profound commitment to serving under-represented and under-served communities, Mitsui has seen the transformative power of college education.
He said: “I have seen former gang members enroll in a community college, graduate and then transfer to a university. I have seen homeless students obtain housing/food stamps/tuition assistance and graduate ready to enter a new economy. I have seen dislocated workers retrain in new fields and gain new skills and a sense of security for their families. “
He recalled that a tradition at North Seattle Community College commencement ceremonies was asking how many students were the first in their families to attend college, how many were working full-time, how many had children, how many spoke more than one language at home, etc. Almost everyone raised their hands. Yesterday’s ‘non-traditional’ students are the new traditional student in today’s community colleges.
A rapidly growing community college population is the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student. Over half of all AAPI students in higher education are in the community colleges. They share the same barriers to success with these new traditional students.
There’s a new federal program designed to help colleges meet the needs of low-income AAPI students. The Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) program is a new type of minority-serving institution.
Career
Throughout his career, Mitsui has led student success and retention efforts, including initiatives to help both South Seattle and North Seattle Community Colleges become minority-serving institutions.
As vice president of Student Services for South Seattle Community College (SSCC), he led a team that secured a $2.4 million Department of Education grant, as well as designation for the college as one of a nationally select group of AANAPISI. “This experience was very helpful in gaining insight into what needs to be done to help more low-income AAPIs complete college,” he stressed.
He also headed the Opportunity Grant team, which helped establish the college as a state leader in achieving key student progress milestones.
Likewise, he worked on the statewide task force to review and redesign the performance funding system in Washington’s Community and Technical Colleges, including the student success metrics.
He oversaw the completion of a new, one-stop Opportunity Center. The Center integrated federal, state and private funding streams to move low-income residents out of poverty through education.
Previously, Mitsui also served as Assistant Dean of Student Services at Green River Community College. He led the college’s first diversity training process, and was recognized with an International Exemplary Leadership in Higher Education Award.
Mitsui graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. Recently, he was a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Washington, where he also earned his master’s degree in the same field.
