A Message From Dr. Kishimoto

Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto is the founder of Voice4Equity LLC and a Clinical Professor at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

May is a magnificent month! Not only is it Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, it’s also full of celebrations starting with May Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and ending with Memorial Day. It is a time where the earth in our hemisphere is waking up, blooming, and showing signs of summer. This May is especially meaningful for me as I just returned from a promotion ceremony in Florida for my daughter who is now a First Lieutenant in the Air Force and I am so proud of her!

This time of year we are full steam ahead for When Women Lead, and I am so excited about the program we have planned! Amazing speakers and sessions, provocative discussions, wellness, with a powerhouse of leadership in public education from across the country. It’s not too late to join us, and we still have great hotel rooms available at the conference rate at both the AC Marriott and The Indigo on the beautiful Vancouver waterfront.

This month, I had the privilege of sitting down virtually with Sarah Trueblood, a middle school principal in CA and recent doctoral graduate from USC. Our conversation dove into her dissertation work on multilingual education, a policy topic that is both near and dear to my heart. I invite you to enjoy our discussion and get to know this leader to watch.

Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the education leaders who are graduating with doctoral degrees this season. It is especially challenging for women who have so many priorities competing for time. Your hard work, perseverance, and commitment to lifelong learning are truly inspiring! Well done!

With joy and anticipation,

Christina