April 17, 2006
Charles Mitchell wins award for leadership in diversity
Charles Mitchell, chancellor of the Seattle Community College District, has been named the 2006 Charles E. Odegaard Award recipient for his outstanding leadership and contributions to diversity and educational opportunity at the University of Washington.
The award will be presented May 3 at Celebration 2006, the annual recognition event presented by the UW Office of Minority Affairs and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program.
“As the president of Seattle Central Community College, Charles Mitchell created a culture of success in higher education for the most diverse institution in the state,” says Rusty Barceló, UW vice president and vice provost for minority affairs and diversity. “Through his leadership, the Seattle Community Colleges have become the major pipeline for diversity to the University of Washington and the Educational Opportunity Program.”
The Odegaard Award was established in April 1973 to honor an individual whose leadership sustains President Charles Odegaard’s work (1958-1973) on behalf of diversity at the University of Washington and the citizens of the state. It is the only university and community selected award and is regarded as the highest achievement in diversity at the university.
As the 2006 recipient, Mitchell joins a list of civic leaders including former Seattle Mayor Norman Rice, State Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez-Kenney, King County Executive Ron Sims, Costco Wholesale Chairman Jeff Brotman and a host of civil rights activists.
The Charles E. Odegaard “Unity” Award is a teak sculpture by Seattle artist George Tsutakawa (1910-1997), an internationally recognized painter and sculptor. “Unity” will be permanently housed and displayed at the University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Center to publicly honor all of the outstanding recipients of the award.
