Dr. Shouan Pan (left) and Mark Mitsui
SEATTLE — Dr. Shouan Pan has been selected as the new chancellor for Seattle Colleges.
Pan beat out Mark Mitsui, former president of North Seattle College.
Pan comes from Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz., where he currently serves as president.
He has over 25 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education. Throughout his administrative career, Pan centers his leadership and management practices on fulfilling the community college mission and promoting student and community success.
In an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly about his new job, Pan said, “I am excited and feel honored. This is a wonderful opportunity, and (SC) has a wonderful system, its colleges are the largest in the city. (Seattle’s) a vibrant city. I am honored to have competed with qualified candidates. “
“I am grateful that the Board has confidence in me.”
Born and raised in Mainland China, Pan immigrated to the United States in 1985. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Iowa State University, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from China’s Hefei Polytechnic University.
Pan’s wife is from Taiwan. The couple has two grown sons.
Pan has a strong track record of improving student success, building collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, businesses, and civic organizations to further institutional goals and community economic development, and securing external resources.
Pan, who starts in July, is replacing Chancellor Jill Wakefield, who is retiring June 30 after 40 years with Seattle Colleges.
Wakefield was appointed in 2009, becoming the district’s first female in that position. When she retires, she will be the longest-serving chancellor in the district’s history.