Adena Ishii is the first Asian American and first woman of color to serve as Mayor of Berkeley. Her professional experience is rooted in her work as a non-profit consultant collaborating with organizations on staff engagement, organizational development, team building, and group facilitation.

Mayor Ishii grew up in Southern California and was actively involved in the Japanese American community through Nihon-buyō (traditional Japanese dancing). Her identity as a Japanese, Chinese, and Indian American allowed her to learn about Asian American history, which instilled in her a strong sense of justice. Mayor Ishii later moved to Berkeley and began her studies at Berkeley City College (BCC), where she became involved in politics, advocating against budget cuts to education. She became the youngest and first woman of color to serve as President of the local League of Women Voters. Mayor Ishii transferred from BCC to UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and later graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law.

Contact the host of State of the City Address 2026