Dee Jay Mailer, who just retired as chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools, was named Thursday to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint 14 new members of the commission, which works with the federal government to improve the health, education and economic status of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Mailer took the reins of Kamehameha Schools at a turbulent time in 2004 and expanded its reach to more Hawaiian children while defending its Hawaiian preference admissions policy. She retired April 1.

"This honor recognizes Dee Jay as a true leader and the many contributions she has made to our state," U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in a statement. "Dee Jay embodies the aloha spirit and brings a breadth of knowledge to the President’s Advisory Commission that is good for Hawaii and our nation."

The panel will be led by Dr. Tung Thanh Nguyen, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and Mary Ann Young Okada, president of Guam Community College.

"We’re excited to welcome a new group of commissioners hailing from all over the nation who represent the diversity and expertise of the AAPI community,"Nguyen said.

The commissioners will be sworn in May 6 in Washington, D.C.