Los Angeles Community College District Appoints Dr. Kelsey Iino As Newest Trustee

Dr. Kelsey Iino | Image courtesy of El Camino Community College

LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Community College District(LACCD) Board of Trustees

unanimously voted on April 13 to appoint community college educator Kelsey K. Iino, Ed.D., to fill the vacant District Seat 7.

Since 2007,Dr. Iino has been part of the counseling faculty at El Camino College (ECC) in

Torrance, serving as a counselor in a variety of fields, including health sciences, athletics,

creative arts and as part of the college’s MANA team supporting Asian-Pacific Islander students.

She previously served as a counselor and teacher at Citrus College and at Santa Monica College. She holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of Southern California; a master’s degree in student affairs counseling and bachelor’s degree in sociology,both from the University of California, Los Angeles and an associate’s degree in sociology from ECC.

Former LACCD Board member Mike Fong, who vacated District Seat 7 upon his election to the California Assembly earlier this year, endorsed Dr. Iino’s appointment, as did U.S. Rep. Judy Chu and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, a former LACCD Board member.

“It is a great honor to serve the citizens of Los Angeles County as a member of the LACCD Board. I look forward to doing whatever I can to ensure that the District continues its important mission of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility for all people seeking an affordable and quality education. LACCD is a game changer for so many people as it provides educational access, upward economic mobility and a sense of hope for a better life. I myself went to a community college. I know first-hand how important community colleges are. The experiences and education I received provided me with the foundation to obtain my career education goals to now serve as a Trustee.” Dr. Iino said.

Dr. Iino is also very active in the Asian community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Little Tokyo Service Center since 2018; as Secretary/Treasurer for the Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Memorial Committee since 2010 and as a volunteer fundraiser for the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress organization since 2003.

“We welcome Dr. Iino, her voice, her wealth of professional and community experience, her energy and her ideas. Her higher education experience and familiarity with the California Community College system will be invaluable as LACCD navigates very challenging times ahead on a variety of issues,” LACCD Board President Gabriel Buelna, Ph.D., said.

Dr. Iino will holdthe District 7 seat until December 9,2022,at which time a newly elected member will serve for the remaining two years of the existing term through 2024.

Chancellor Rodriguez said “Dr. Iino’s academic training and professional role in higher education, her lived experience and her community activism makes our governing board stronger and better positioned for the tasks ahead of bolstering enrollments and equitable student outcomes, addressing student basic needs and racial equity and preparing for an evolving economy where too many people with little or no education are being left behind.”

The Board of Trustees serves four-year terms. In 2020, elections were held for Board Seats 1, 3, 5 and 7. In November2022, elections will be held for Board Seats 2, 4 and 6—plus Seat 7, but only for the remaining two years.