Michiko Nakashima-Lizarazo was born and raised in Texas. Michiko relocated to Ogden with her husband, Alex, when he accepted employment with ATK Thiokol in 1998. Michiko is of Mexican and Japanese-American descent and is fluent in English and Spanish. She graduated from Utah State University with a Master of Science degree in Psychology and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at El Paso where she majored in English and American Literature and minored in Psychology.

She is currently employed with Weber State University (WSU) as the Director of the Multicultural Student Center. Michiko worked at Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College (OWATC) for five years before accepting her position at WSU. While at OWATC, Michiko served as the Alan & Jeanne Hall Scholarship Foundation Administrator, School-to-Work Job Coach and managed a Neighborhood Career Center. Michiko received the OWATC President’s Outstanding Staff Award in 2004.

Michiko is an athlete who competed in mountain bike racing in 2005 where she obtained a top seed in the Beginner Women’s division. She advanced to an upper division (Sport Women) to train and compete in the 2007 Intermountain Cup Mountain Bike Racing Series. Michiko placed 3rd in the Evanston Finals and exceeded her goal of being in the Top 10 (ranked 4^th overall) for the race series. She is active in athletic competitions, loves the outdoors, and traveling with her husband, Alex.

She is actively involved with advocacy, scholarship fundraisers, cultural and educational activities and has served on numerous planning committees.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:  

Image NU CHAC Board of Trustees           UCLR Board of Trustees      

National Council of La Raza                      Zions Bank Multicultural Advisory Board

2002 Winter Olympics volunteer               Expanding Your Horizons volunteer

UCLR Youth & Leadership events               Ogden Cinco de Mayo Festivals

RECOGNITION/AWARDS:

 WSU Crystal Crest Finalist, Friend of Student (2008)

 WSU Real Woman Award (2008)

 Utah César Chávez Peace & Justice Award (2007)

 WSU First-Generation Student Recognition Award (2007)

 WSU Putting Students Through Award (2007 and 2008)

 WSU Diversity Team Award Recipient (2006)

 OWATC “Service and commitment to youth and community” (2005)

 OWATC President’s Outstanding Staff Award (2004)

 Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, "made a difference" in the life of former   

    students Multiple Honoree (2004 and 2002)

 Northern Utah’s YCC Spirit of the American Woman Award (2003)

Motto: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." –Chinese Proverb 

E-mail  MNakashima@Weber.Edu