Retired Vice President Receives Honors at National Council for Workforce Education Conference

National Council for Workforce Education recognizes Mabel Edmonds

Former Vice President for Instruction Mabel Edmonds, who retired from Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) in April 2020, received two honors at the annual conference of the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) in Portland on October 13, 2022. NCWE, an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges, has a mission to “[provide] a national platform that equips practitioners and leaders to deliver equity-conscious and impactful workforce education programs.” 

During her time at CPTC, Edmonds was deeply involved with NCWE, serving on its board of directors for a number of years and as board president in 2014-15. This year, she was honored with the John F. Grede Board Service Award, named after NCWE’s first board president. Since its establishment in 2000, this rare award has only been bestowed upon 14 awardees. The Grede Award is given for “outstanding, extraordinary service” to the organization’s board, and nominations must come from current or past board members. 

Nominations for Edmonds gave glowing accounts of both her service to the board of NCWE and her personal leadership. “[Edmonds] has worked tirelessly on behalf of NCWE over the years, serving in multiple capacities with vigor, excitement, dedication,” one nominator enthused. Another noted that a marketing and strategic plan she devised during her service as board president continues to benefit NCWE.  

Critically, Edmonds brought a sharp focus on issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. “Mabel has been our moral compass. Whenever we strayed from our mission or our vision, Mabel brought us back on track,” noted one nomination, while another said she laid the foundation for the board to focus on these issues. 

Edmonds’ leadership in this area led to the second honor of the day, the announcement of the newly created Mabel K. Edmonds Excellence in Equity Award. This award, slated to be first given at the 2023 NCWE conference, will “recognize a community college program that demonstrates intentional and effective equity-conscious practices in order to mitigate inequities in the workforce and in their community.”  

“I am so honored to receive this recognition,” says Edmonds, emphasizing the encouragement and support of NCWE’s board members and executive director, the Washington community and technical colleges, and CPTC. “NCWE truly makes a difference in the lives of the workforce professionals we serve, all for the benefit of students in colleges across the country.”