Recognizing Dr. Mary Okada

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Mary Okada as she concludes a remarkable chapter of service as President of Guam Community College, after many years dedicated to education, workforce development, and the people of Guam.

Dr. Okada's leadership at Guam Community College has been historic. She became the first woman to lead the institution and went on to serve longer than any president before her. That continuity mattered. It provided stability, direction, and trust at a time when higher education was facing rapid change and increasing demands.

Long before becoming president, Dr. Okada served Guam Community College in key financial and administrative roles. She also brought experience from the Guam Department of Education.

Because of that background, she understood the institution not only from the classroom level, but from the operational side--how to manage resources, plan responsibly, and make decisions that would stand the test of time.

Under her leadership, Guam Community College strengthened its role as Guam's primary engine for workforce training and career education. Programs expanded to meet the real needs of the island, preparing students for skilled trades, healthcare, public service, and emerging technical fields. These were not abstract academic offerings; they were pathways to stable jobs and stronger families.

Dr. Okada placed a strong emphasis on financial responsibility and accountability. Through careful planning and disciplined management, Guam Community College maintained long-term fiscal stability and earned consistent confidence from auditors, policymakers, and the broader community. That kind of stewardship is not always visible, but it is essential to an institution's success.

She also understood that education cannot exist in isolation. During her tenure, Guam Community College strengthened partnerships with government agencies, private employers, and regional organizations to ensure that training programs aligned with workforce demand. As a result, students left GCC better prepared to step directly into the workforce and contribute to Guam's economy.

Dr. Okada served as a respected voice for Guam and the Pacific in national and regional education discussions. She represented the interests of island communities in conversations about access, opportunity, and workforce development, ensuring that Guam was not overlooked in broader policy discussions.

Her leadership extended beyond a single campus. She served on accreditation bodies, education councils, and advisory boards, helping shape policies and standards that affect students well beyond Guam. Through this work, she elevated career and technical education and reinforced its importance as a respected and viable pathway.

Those who worked with Dr. Okada describe her as thoughtful, steady, and deeply committed to students. She led with consistency and care, focused not on short-term recognition, but on building systems that would continue to serve students long after her tenure.

As she steps away from her role at Guam Community College, her impact is evident in the thousands of students whose lives were shaped by the education and training they received. Her legacy is reflected not only in programs and facilities, but in opportunity created and futures strengthened.

Mr. Speaker, Guam Community College plays a vital role in our island's success, and Dr. Okada's leadership helped ensure that a role was carried out with purpose, responsibility, and vision. I thank Dr. Okada, for her years of service and for the lasting contributions she has made to Guam and its people--past, present, and future.

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