CEO Award

Kathi H. Hiyane-Brown, Ed.D., became the fourth president of Whatcom Community College in 2007. Dr. Hiyane-Brown leads this comprehensive community college that serves 11,000 annually, employs more than 400 employees, and operates with an annual state budget of approximately $20 million. During her tenure, she has built vital community partnerships, inspired innovation and excellence throughout the College, and encouraged a culture of inclusiveness.

A nationally recognized advocate of community college education, Dr. Hiyane-Brown currently serves as a member and immediate past chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Presidents Academy Executive Committee (PAEC); a member and co-chair of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE); and on the board of the National Asian Pacific Islander Council (NAPIC), an affiliate council of AACC. Additionally, she was a past director on the AACC Board of Directors, and past chair of the Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity for AACC.

As a member of the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC), Dr. Hiyane-Brown serves as chair of the WACTC Strategic Visioning Committee, member of the WACTC Executive Committee and has served as chair of the Educational Services Committee, Critical Issues Committee, as well as the Legislative Committee. Her local leadership experience includes serving on the Boards of the Northwest Economic Council (NWEC) and past board member of Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Advancement (WAHA). In addition to statewide committees focused on the work of the two-year college system, she is a member of the Governor’s Taskforce on Adult Education Advisory Council and serves on the board of The Association (the Washington Community and Technical College Administrative Training Association). Dr. Hiyane-Brown’s national involvement with professional development includes her experiences as a member of the National Council for Staff, Program, and Organizational Development (NCSPOD), having served in numerous leadership positions, including President for that organization. She conducts training and workshops on leadership and diversity in venues locally, nationally and internationally. She is committed to supporting leadership development initiatives with underrepresented groups and is a mentor to many aspiring leaders.

Dr. Hiyane-Brown was the President of Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN, for four years prior to being appointed president at WCC. She also held administrative posts at Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA; Leeward Community College, Pearl City, HI; and Muscatine Community College, Muscatine, IA.

Born in Hawai‘i, Dr. Hiyane-Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Grinnell College; a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology, University of Iowa; and a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership, Oregon State University. Dr. Hiyane-Brown has been recognized as one of 2010’s Outstanding Women Educators by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation and was the recipient of the 2002 Leadership Award from The Association. In recognition of her commitment to staff and program development, she received NCSPOD’s College President’s Award in 2012. She also received the 2014 CEO of the Year Award from Washington Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges.

APAHE 2025 Community Champion Awardee (Posthumous)

Celebrating Dr. Bob Suzuki (1936–2024)

• The first AANHPI CEO of a major university in the U.S.
• Inspiration and founder for LEAP Advance
• Consistently supported APAHE over the years
• Awarded one of the first APAHE CEO awards
• Recognized scholar in Asian American Studies and Education and Policy issues

In Memoriam: President Emeritus Dr. Suzuki
Cal Poly Pomona

Former University President Dedicated Life to Social Justice, Diversifying Education

Bob Suzuki’s childhood experiences with discrimination and his desire to see a more just and equitable world shaped his life’s work in both education and activism.

APAHE 2025 Community Champion Awardee

Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009.  She represents the 28th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California.

Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security, and Medicare. In that Committee, Rep. Chu is a member of the Subcommittees on Health, giving her oversight over healthcare reform and crucial safety net programs, Worker and Family Support, and Oversight. She also serves on the House Budget Committee. 

Chu was first elected to the Board of Education for Garvey School District in 1985.  From there, she was elected to the Monterey Park City Council, where she served as Mayor three times.  She then was elected to the State Assembly and then California’s elected tax board, known as the State Board of Equalization.  In 2009, she became the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress in history. 

Chu lives with her husband, Michael Eng, in the city of Monterey Park, where they have been residents for over 30 years.

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Chu was Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (2011–2024).