KCC chancellor candidate Misaki Takabayashi has been recommended for the position by Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro to University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner. (Photo by Cameron Enomoto)

By Cameron Enomoto | Staff Writer

Misaki Takabayshi has been recommended to assume the role of KCC’s next chancellor, the University of Hawaiʻi announced on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Chancellor Louise Pagotto, who has served at KCC for almost 33 years, will be retiring on December 30, 2022. Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Maria Bautista will be appointed interim chancellor effective January 3, 2023, and will serve until Takabayashi assumes the chancellor position. Takabayashi’s effective date of appointment is March 1, 2023.

Dr. Misaki Takabayashi is the current associate vice president of Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. (Photo courtesy of KCC)

“Hawaiʻi is stepping into a new era with important lessons learned through the pandemic and novel opportunities ahead. Kapiʻolani Community College is the jewel of higher education in Hawaiʻi and will be a key partner in empowering the future educated workforce here and abroad,” said Takabayashi in a University of Hawaiʻi press release. “I am truly humbled to be entrusted to lead and support Kapiʻolani Community College in our next chapter. Together with all faculty and staff on campus, I look forward to innovating learning experiences where we draw the best out of every student firmly grounded in Hawaiian values and help them kūlia i ka nuʻu, reach their full potential of global significance.”

Takabayashi is currently the associate vice president of graduate school at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University in Japan and has more than 20 years of higher education experience. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in marine science from the University of Queensland in Australia, a Master of Science in biology and Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Sydney in Australia, and an Associate of Applied Science in Hawaiian studies from Hawaiʻi Community College.