CCBA Pioneer Award

Jan Yoshiwara, former executive director for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges retired in July 2022 after 44 years in the college system, including 38 years at SBCTC.

Yoshiwara’s career included decades of changes and innovations within Washington’s community and technical college system. Under her leadership, the system put racial equity at the front and center of its mission as Washington became one of the first states in the nation to offer applied bachelor’s degrees at community and technical colleges.

Yoshiwara also led the college system to join a national reform movement called “Guided Pathways.” Under Guided Pathways, students establish concrete career goals and receive clear maps of which courses to take, and in what order, to earn a certificate or degree that qualifies them for careers or university-transfer.

Underpinning all the efforts is a robust research department established under Yoshiwara’s leadership. Additionally, Yoshiwara launched programs to advance online learning, provide students with free or low-cost books through open education resources, and established a Student Success Center at the State Board. She also built an advocacy network with students, college leadership, business and labor organizations, and other groups to gain legislative support for community and technical college students and the colleges that serve them.