Described as an “advocator for the humanities” and an “exceptional human being and contributor to society,” it’s easy to understand why Kendra Mirasol is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Humanities. Originally from Wisconsin, she spent a year at the University of Wisconsin before transferring to UC Irvine after her mother passed away – a “reset” of her life that would lead her on an inspiring journey of personal growth and professional excellence.

Kendra graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in German in 1988. She returned to the Midwest to continue her education at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where she received her MBA in finance and accounting in 1993. There, she found herself a rarity, both as a woman in the program and as someone with a background in the humanities.

Her professional experiences have spanned the globe, including roles in marketing and sales at Siemens AG in Berlin and McGraw-Hill Education in Los Angeles. She also held leadership positions at RR Donnelley & Sons in Chicago and the College Women’s Association of Japan.  Later, she and her business partner purchased IOR Global Services, where she served as President. Kendra is the former CEO of VitalTalk, a Seattle-based nonprofit.

The importance of the humanities would continue to be a foundation of Kendra’s career. She currently serves as chair of the audit and finance committee for the board of directors at Cultural Vistas, a global nonprofit that provides work-exchange programs to promote international collaboration. She views communication skills and managing differences in a variety of intercultural settings as critical to success.  

A former scholarship recipient, Kendra is committed to providing the kinds of experiences made possible by the financial support she received as a student. To ensure that future Anteaters will have the same opportunities to become engaged citizens of the world through global learning, Kendra has recently established an endowment in honor of her late husband, Jay Mirasol, to support study, research and work abroad for students in the UC Irvine Department of European Language and Studies.