The local branch of the NAACP honored Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin Saturday night (Oct. 25) for her dedicated service in education.
Martin received the Josephine Ruffin Honorary Civil Rights Award of Distinction at the Ypsilanti/Willow Run Branch’s annual Freedom Fund Gala, held Saturday (Oct. 25) at the EMU Student Center Ballroom.
Rep. John Dingell, who is retiring this fall and is the longest serving congressman in the House of Representatives, was also honored at the Freedom Fund Dinner with a special video tribute and remarks from several community leaders.
Several other community leaders also were honored at the event.
The Josephine Ruffin Honorary Civil Rights Award of Distinction honors the legacy of Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, an African-American publisher, journalist, civil rights leader, suffragist, and editor of Women’s Era, the first newspaper published by and for African-American women.
Ruffin, who died in 1924 at age 81, was a community leader who focused particularly on issues affecting African American women.
Martin, the University’s first female president, has served as Eastern’s leader since the summer of 2008.
Shoshana DeMaria, president of the Ypsilanti/Willow Run Branch of the NAACP said, “Since President Martin’s arrival, she has anchored Eastern Michigan University successfully with her focus on ‘Education First,’ keeping tuition affordable, increasing enrollment and making students, families, alumni, faculty and staff feel secure, confident and empowered. No one can deny that she has accomplished her goals.”
Watch video of the award presentation.
The NAACP defines its principal objective as ensuring the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority groups in particular and ALL citizens of the United States, and to eliminate race prejudices. The NAACP seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination through the Democratic process.
The NAACP was born was born in 1909, and established its national office in New York City in 1910.
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