Tacoma Community College Vice President Named President of Normandale Community College

Kathi Hiyane-Brown, Tacoma Community College’s vice president for academic and student affairs, was recently appointed president of Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. Her appointment is effective July 12.

“Kathi has provided exceptional, dedicated leadership as TCC's vice president,” said TCC President Pamela Transue. “During her tenure, the college has experienced unprecedented growth. She has led our instruction and student services teams in developing innovative, effective forms of educational delivery and more streamlined, efficient processes to serve students. Kathi has served the Tacoma community very well and we will miss her skillful leadership; she has been a trusted colleague and adviser. We will are conducting a national search for her successor.”  

Hiyane-Brown has been at Tacoma Community College, which serves more than 9,200 students each quarter since 1991. She will continue her TCC duties through commencement in mid-June. Previously, Hiyane-Brown served as dean of instruction at Leeward Community College in Hawaii from 1987 to 1991 and as associate dean of instruction and staff development coordinator at Muscatine Community College in Iowa from 1977 to 1987.

“Like TCC, Normandale Community College has an excellent reputation for quality with a strong transfer program and a number of professional degrees,” Hiyane-Brown said. “I am excited about this opportunity, though this is a bittersweet moment for me. I have made many friends at TCC and in the community and Tacoma has been my home for a very long time.”

Hiyane-Brown will succeed Normandale Community College President Tom Horak, who is retiring.

“Dr. Hiyane-Brown has outstanding qualifications to lead Normandale Community College,” said Jim A. Luoma, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Chair. “With her experience in colleges across the country, we also look forward to the fresh ideas she will bring to our growing system.”

Normandale Community College provides the first two years of higher education leading to a bachelor’s degree and offers two-year career programs that prepare students for employment in fields such as dental hygiene, nursing, law enforcement and computer technology. Established in 1968, the college serves more than 10,000 students annually. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System comprises 32 state universities, community colleges, technical colleges and combined community and technical colleges located on 53 campuses across Minnesota.

Hiyane-Brown holds a doctorate in education from the Oregon State University Community College Leadership Program, a master’s degree in instructional design and technology from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Grinnell College in Iowa. She currently serves on the boards of the YWCA and the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, and is a member of the Asian and Pacific Islander Forum of Pierce County. In addition, she is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Global Education, and serves on the editorial board of Academic Leadership, the Journal of the National Community College Chair Academy.