Charles Mitchell worked with Seattle Community Colleges for more the 25 years, including periods as President of Seattle Central Community College and Chancellor of the Seattle Community College System. Mitchell was born in Seattle in 1940 and is the product of the city’s education system. He attended T.T. Minor Elementary School, Meany Junior High, and Garfield High School. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington (UW), a master’s degree from Seattle University, and a doctorate in education from Brigham Young University.
During his years at the University of Washington, Mitchell played football for the UW Huskies and was a member of the 1961 Rose Bowl-winning team. He was inducted into the Husky Football Hall of Fame in 1992. After graduating from the UW, he played professional football for six years with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. After earning advanced degrees from Seattle University and Brigham Young University, Mitchell worked briefly for the Governor of Colorado and later for King County Executive John Spellman.
In 1987, Mitchell was named President of Seattle Central Community College, a post he held until 2003. Under his leadership as President of Seattle Central, Mitchell oversaw the expansion of enrollment. He also encouraged programs and initiatives that attracted more students of color and students from immigrant backgrounds. His work was recognized by Time magazine, which named Seattle Central “College of the Year” in 2001-2002.
In 2003, Mitchell was named Chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges and held the post until 2008. While there he administered four campus and six specialized training centers with a total enrollment of more than 55,000 students. After completing five years as leader of Washington State’s largest two-year college district, he was named to lead the Power & Promise multi-year fund-raising campaign for the community college system.
Mitchell was the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his educational and community achievements. They include an honorary Ph.D. from Seattle University (2008), the Charles E. Odegaard Award from the University of Washington (2006), and induction into the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the African-American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2002, he was “Father of the Year” from the American Diabetes Association. In 2001, he won the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from the Phi Theta Kappa Honorary Society. Mitchell was also a University of Washington “Husky Legend” and has been honored with a UW Minority Affairs Program Alumnus Award. His work to promote the advancement of minority students in higher education was recognized with the Equity Award from the Trustees Association of Washington Community Colleges.
Dr. Charles H. Mitchell passed away on June 27, 2025, in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; their two children, Julie and Rashad; his son-in-law, Darrin; and his twin granddaughters, Michelle and Tracey.
