Michelle King ’84

Michelle King is the 2017 Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year. She is the superintendent of schools for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the nation. A leader in education who has dedicated her 30-year career to the students of Los Angeles Unified, King is committed to ensuring that nearly 600,000 L.A. Unified students across 1,000 campuses have access to tools they need to prepare for college and career opportunities. She has led district-wide reforms to increase graduation rates, particularly among traditionally under-represented populations. She has also been a champion of programs such as Restorative Justice, aimed at keeping students in school and improving citizenship. Ms. King graduated from UCLA with a biology degree, holds a master’s degree in administration from Pepperdine University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at USC.