The Sacramento Bee and Nehemiah Leaders Programs are celebrating this year’s 60 Change Makers. Join them at our gala at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Grand Sheraton in downtown Sacramento. Buy tickets at sacramentochangemakers.com.
When a Sacramento State student gets into their dream graduate school, they often call Aniesha Mitchell to share the news. When a student is experiencing a mental health crisis, Mitchell leads the school’s care response.
For the 31,000 Hornets the university serves, Mitchell — as senior vice president for student affairs and inclusive excellence — is in charge of curating the outside-the-classroom experience and ensuring a supportive campus environment.
Since 2023, she has overseen student engagement and retention efforts, housing and access to basic resources, counseling and wellness services, and programs for students from diverse communities.
“Our students never cease to amaze me and it’s my highest honor to advocate for them,” Mitchell said. “My goal is to remove academic barriers so they can persist, thrive and graduate.”
Aniesha Mitchell, Sacramento State vice president for student affairs, one of the Change Makers selected, photographed at The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com
Licensed to practice law in her home state of Michigan, Mitchell realized higher education was her real calling when she worked in student retention at her alma mater Oakland University in Michigan early in her career. As she helped students who were struggling academically and behaviorally, she was motivated by a strong desire to protect their right to due process.
“(She) is passionate about student rights, restorative justice, and equity,” said her colleague Chao Vang. “She chose a path in higher education, dedicating her career to empowering students and investing in the future of the Sacramento community.”
Mitchell was instrumental to the launch of the Black Honors College — a first-of-its-kind institution that provides a specialized educational experience for students interested in Black history, culture and contributions. She also transformed the school’s affinity centers from regular lounges to vibrant spaces that offer academic and emotional support.
Up next, her goal is to address the loneliness students are experiencing on campus. Her focus, Mitchell said, is curating experiences that facilitate the formation of lifelong bonds.
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Tarini Mehta is The Sacramento Bee’s higher education reporter. Previously, she covered education in Napa County for The Press Democrat through the California Local News Fellowship. An alumna of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, she has written for publications such as the Boston Globe, the Bay Area News Group, The Diplomat, India Today, The Hindu and The Print.