Misaki Takabayashi

Dr. Misaki Takabayashi is a higher education leader committed to advancing student success through culturally grounded, workforce-aligned, and systemically transformative leadership. She currently serves as Chancellor of Kapiʻolani Community College in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, a role she assumed in March 2023. Since her appointment, she has led foundational reforms anchored in the College’s 2023–2029 Strategic Plan, aligning planning, budgeting, accreditation, and leadership accountability around three integrated priorities: Thriving & Sustainable Campus Culture, Student Success, and Workforce Needs of Hawaiʻi and Beyond.

Central to her leadership philosophy is kuleana, shared responsibility, to Hawaiʻi. Under her direction, the College has institutionalized ʻāina-based learning, strengthened Hawaiian language and cultural proficiency initiatives, and embedded responsibility to place into governance, curriculum, and workforce partnerships. She is establishing the Māunulau Office of Experiential Learning and Workforce Development to integrate credit and non-credit pathways, expand internships and apprenticeships, and infuse career success competencies across programs.

Dr. Takabayashi’s career spans more than two decades in higher education. She previously served as Associate Vice President and Vice Dean of the Graduate School at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and held leadership roles at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, including dean and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.

A marine scientist by training, she earned her Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of Queensland and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology from the University of Sydney. She also earned an Associate of Applied Science in Hawaiian Studies, reflecting her commitment to Indigenous-serving education.

Dr. Takabayashi serves on the Executive Board of Community Colleges for International Development (CCID), is a member of the United States–Japan Council (USJC), and is Vice President of the World Uchinanchu Business Network, strengthening global partnerships across the Pacific.