Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Recognizes Dr. Washington with Award

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., President of Kalamazoo Valley Community College has been named the recipient of the “2020 Man of Distinction Education Award” from the Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The award was presented during a special virtual program on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. In commenting on Washington’s selection, the organization’s President Tracy Morton said, “Throughout his career, Dr. Washington’s leadership style has been characterized by an openness to input, humility, cooperation, trust and above all, a bias for action.”

“We were impressed with his commitment to increasing positive student experiences and removing barriers which limit student success,” Yvonne Jackson, 1st Vice President said.

Washington assumed leadership of Kalamazoo Valley Community College on July 2, 2018 following a national search by the college’s Board of Trustees. He is the third president of the 53-year-old institution and first African American president of the college. He attributes his love of learning and education to the people who believed and invested in him as he made the journey from first generation college graduate to president of a multi-campus institution.

Washington previously served as president at New River Community and Technical College. He also led as the Vice President and CEO at the Lancaster Campus of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) in Pennsylvania and Vice President of Student Services at Kellogg Community College in Michigan.

Washington received his doctorate in educational studies/specialization in educational leadership and higher education from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska; a master’s degree in education from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota; and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio.

Washington's wife Tonja Embry Washington has taught elementary, secondary and post-secondary students. She is active in philanthropic and community initiatives and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated. The Washingtons have three children.

MORE ABOUT Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Through the years, Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter has made its presence known in the community with the quality of its programs and the outstanding service of its sorors. Kalamazoo Alumnae takes pride in maintaining Delta’s tradition of public service by providing and supporting programs that meet the needs of the community. This has been accomplished by primarily looking to Delta’s Five Point Program for direction and guidance.

In 1975 the Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter established the Mary McLeod Bethune Public Service Awards, which honors Black women who have given outstanding service to this area and who have attained outstanding personal achievement. Beginning in 1982 and continuing, the Chapter has provided renewable academic scholarships to African-American female high school seniors who have been accepted to a college or university. In addition to the academic scholarships, the sorority voted in 1997 to award an annual grant to Kalamazoo Valley Community College for emergency funds to assist in meeting the random financial needs of qualifying African-American female students. The Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter collaborated with several women’s organizations to establish The Women’s Education Coalition with an endowment of over $1,000,000 that supports non-traditional female students, many of whom are single mothers attending college.

Dedicated to public service, the Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter has consistently supported efforts to empower African Americans through increased voting awareness and political action. Through the years sorors have become voting registrars, worked in, and contributed to, successful campaigns of African American men and women in this community. The Chapter is a Life Member of NAACP and as part of its support of Arts and Culture in the community, the Chapter has hosted productions of the Civic Black Theater, and participated in the Black Arts and Cultural Center’s Annual Festival.

Indeed, the Kalamazoo Alumnae Chapter’s legacy of support and service to the Kalamazoo Community lends credence to the fourteen visionary founders who in 1971 wanted to “further the work of the sorority and provide an opportunity to continually renew their commitment.”