Alumni Awards
Meet the winners of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society annual awards. Recipients of the awards will be honored during a reception on Nov. 14, homecoming week.
Meet the winners of the University of the District of Columbia National Alumni Society annual awards. Recipients of the awards will be honored during a reception on Nov. 14, homecoming week.
Scholarship Committee – DR. CASHANA MORRISON (’08)
As chair of the Scholarship Committee, Morrison has shown excellence in leading her group and has demonstrated superior loyalty and service to the university and its alumni. Morrison has been a general education teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools since 2015, where she has an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to students and their learning. In 2019, she was awarded Teacher of the Year at Robert R. Gray Elementary, going on to be nominated for Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year. Most recently, Washington Football Team honored Morrison as the May 2021 Educator of the Month. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., and has served on the executive board of the Xi Omega Chapter since 2015.
TONYA BARGE EDINGTON
First Lady Tonya Barge Edington is the wife of Dr. Maurice D. Edington, the 10th President of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). A proud graduate of Eastern College (now Eastern University) in Pennsylvania, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management. Tonya is a dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., having pledged with the Delta Kappa Omega graduate chapter in Tallahassee, Florida. Her commitment to service has been evident through years of impactful work on scholarship committees, community health initiatives, and drives to support students and families in need.
With over 20 years of experience in human resources across various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and higher education, Tonya currently contributes her expertise to a marketing agency. Growing up on a farm in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, instilled in her a deep appreciation for family and community. As First Lady of UDC, she has been an active and visible presence on campus and throughout Washington, D.C., using her platform to inspire young people and support the university’s mission. Her passion for mentorship, rooted in her upbringing and her faith, drives her commitment to uplifting and guiding the next generation.
TONY LEWIS, JR. (’05)
Tony Lewis, Jr. is an author, activist, criminal justice reformer, and reentry expert that has spent his adult life working tirelessly at the intersection of poverty, violence, mass incarceration, and trauma. His 24 years of servant leadership fostering community-based strategies to help prevent violence and increase public safety has brought much needed clarity and solutions to these complex issues. He has fought to create institutional change for those that require it most, while casting a bright light on their needs, hopes, and dreams. In the process, he has built coalitions and developed meaningful relationships with a wide variety of powerful stakeholders across the city and throughout the country.
Mr. Lewis Jr’s activism and advocacy has led to legislative/policy changes regarding children with incarcerated parents, voting rights for incarcerated residents, returning citizen hiring/housing, social equity, the arts, and gun violence prevention/intervention. He has been a leader locally and nationally around issues that have impacted communities of color the most. He has traveled the country lecturing about the collateral damage of Mass Incarceration and gun violence. He has organized efforts to address food insecurity, displacement, and access to opportunity. He has galvanized thousands across all demographics to take on personal responsibility to improve their circumstances and communities. He has been a bridge and translator of sorts between government and community. Tony Lewis Jr has been an example that transformational change is possible and continuous, no matter the circumstances.
His work and advocacy have been featured on CNN, BET, The Breakfast Club, The Washington Post, and many media outlets.
Tony Lewis, Jr. resides in Washington DC with his Wife Jessica and their daughters Isabella and Sophie.
LACHELLE J. HARRISON (’12)
Harrison is honored as an emerging leader in the community whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth in contribution to the events planning profession and increased levels of leadership, responsibility and sphere of impact. Her track record of 850+ small to complex events reflects a strong career trajectory with the possibility of forward advancement and potential for appointment at the highest levels of her profession. Harrison obtained her Master of Public Administration from UDC in 2012, she is a lifetime member of UDCNAS, former UDNAS Gala Chair, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Xi Omega Chapter and the Meeting Professional International (MPI) Potomac Chapter. She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in November 2017 and received national recognition by the Event Services Professional Association (ESPA) and Successful Meetings Magazine for Convention Services Manager of the Year. Recently, Harrison led the 2024 Democratic National Convention as Deputy Director or Logistics and Credentials and supporting the Harris Campaign’s Election Watch Party in Washington, DC.
JOYCE NIXON – DC Teachers College (1973)
Herron was a founding member of UDCNAS, a supporter, and an active and lifetime member, who freely gave of her time and energy with a bright, steady spirit and a cheerful heart. Th Georgia Herron Spirit Award recognizes alumni who show superior loyalty and service to the university and the university’s alumni society. Nixon, owner of Early Minds Consultant, LLC, has spent her career in early childhood development. An early graduate of the DC Teachers College, Nixon earned a master’s in special education and teaching from Trinity College. She has spent decades volunteering on boards, including devoting decades of service to the UDCNAS. Nixon is a 51 year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and on the Board of The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Anne Arundel Co. MD.
DARRELL “DUNNIE” WATSON (1995)
Watson has brought distinction to the university and alumni society through personal and professional achievement. He has demonstrated extraordinary participation, provided excellent contributions by promoting enhancing the image of the society, showing professional ethics of the highest caliber and engaging in the community. Watson, a 1995 graduate of UDC, served 30 years as band director at Frank W Ballou Senior High School.
TAMARA PHELPS & JOVAN WILLIAMS-BEY (’24)
In its inaugural year, the UDCNAS Trailblazer award honors young alumni of no more than five years who have high levels of professional accomplishment, leadership abilities, potential for future leadership roles and commitments to serving others. Phelps, who studied human psychology at UDC, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Mother, author, educator, and philanthropist, JoVan Williams-Bey—affectionately known as “Jo”—is a proud native of Washington, D.C. After a 23-year hiatus, she returned to college as a transfer student and embraced the vibrant Firebird Community at the University of the District of Columbia. During her university tenure, JoVan held several leadership roles, including serving as an officer in Student Government, reigning as the queen of the royal court, and becoming both a member and the president of UDC’s Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Beta Chapter. She was dedicated to fostering leadership among students and advocating for self-motivation and positive contributions during their college years and beyond.
A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, JoVan highlights the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in her work. Upon graduation, she continued her academic journey at Liberty University, where she pursued graduate studies in Public
Administration with a concentration in Education Policy and Leadership. JoVan currently serves as a Policy Analyst and Leadership Developer at the DC Department of Corrections through the HBCU Public Service Apprenticeship Program, a highly selective initiative that accepted only 25 out of 450 applicants.
In her role, she engages in policy analysis, leadership development, and public safety initiatives, making a significant impact on her community. Additionally, JoVan is the Membership Chairperson for the UDC National Alumni Society (UDCNAS), where she works tirelessly to engage and connect alumni to strengthen the university community.
Committed to creating meaningful change, she founded Moments In Time, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS in her community. JoVan’s work embodies a deep desire to positively impact lives, one step at a time. She draws inspiration from the wisdom of Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
TRUSTEE JEROME SHELTON – DC Teachers College (1971)
In 1971 Jerome and his wife graduated from the District of Columbia Teachers College, married, and later became proud alumni of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
His educational experiences include service as a teacher and administrator at the elementary, middle, adult, and high school levels. While teaching he was elected as a Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) Representative to the Executive Board of the WTU and served as a contract negotiator. As a teacher he was Chair of the Region C Elementary Athletic League and many other board and union committee positions.
We have served the District of Columbia Teachers’ Federal Credit Union, for over 40 years and Jerome has served as Chair for 16 years. In 2010 he was first elected by his fellow alumni to serve as an Alumni Trustee Representative to UDC’s Board of Trustees where he also served as chair and member of multiple committees. At the end of his second five-year term, he was made a mayoral appointee to the Board of Trustees while proudly continuing his service to our Alma Mater.
His service to the students in the District of Columbia included administrative appointments to Bunker Hill Elementary and Community, Harrison Elementary, Brookland Elementary School, The Fort Lincoln Elementary, Middle, and Community School, The Dix Street Academy, Dunbar, and Eastern Senior High Schools. Mr. Shelton retired from the DC Public School System in 2002 after serving as Principal at Eastern. While an administrator there, he was also chair of the Association of Assistant Principals for Community Education. Upon retirement from DC, he provided his educational leadership experience to the Prince George’s County Public School System where he served as an administrator for eight years. In June 2011, he retired a second time. Mr. Shelton, a trained educator, brings firsthand understanding of the challenges and rewards of working, managing, and leading organizations, as well as fighting for the economic needs of educators employed in the District, Maryland, and Virginia.