Charles H. Mitchell, former president of Seattle Central Community College, passed away on June 27. He was 85 years old.
As an undergraduate student, Dr. Mitchell played football for the University of Washington. Upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree in education and history, he played professional football for five years with the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills before transitioning his career to education. He went on to receive a master’s degree in administration from Seattle University and a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University in Utah.
For more than 25 years, Dr. Mitchell was an educator and administrator for the Seattle Community Colleges system. In 1987, he assumed the presidency of Seattle Central Community College. Over his 16-year tenure, the college expanded its enrollment and focused on advancing educational opportunities for students of color and students of immigrant backgrounds. During the 2001-2002 academic year, Seattle Central Community College was named “College of the Year” by Time magazine.
In 2003, Dr. Mitchell was named chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges system, where he oversaw four campuses and six specialized training centers with a total enrollment of more than 55,000 students. He retired from his post in 2008.
