2023 Professional Achievement Award

Rolita Flores Ezeonu, Ed.D, ’06

College of Education

As the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student, Dr. Rolita Flores Ezeonu’s academic success was made possible in large part by her family, community, and mentors’ generous support and belief in her. Ezeonu is honored to have built a career helping students who come from similar backgrounds. For 25 years she has transformed educational institutions so they can better serve the most marginalized communities.

Throughout her career, Ezeonu has served as a leading administrator for technical and community colleges in South King County. Currently she is the Vice President of Instruction at Green River College. She boldly draws from her culture, experiences and values to create partnerships, develop programs and usher in resources that increase access to higher education for minoritized, marginalized and low-income learners.

Ezeonu has also partnered with surrounding communities and local nonprofits to remove barriers and expand access to higher education. She has built relationships with community partners like St. Vincent de Paul’s Centro Rendu, Para Los Ninos, and Muckleshoot Tribe to open stronger pathways into technical and transfer programs – helping secure a $1.5 million AANAPISI grant for Highline College. Additionally, she has shared her knowledge and approaches to this work through scholarly publications. She is also a fellow in the Aspen Rising Presidents fellowship this 22-23 year.

In every role, Ezeonu has championed ways to dismantle racism while fostering equity and inclusion.

Having dedicated her career to strengthening educational institutions and the communities that surround them, Ezeonu is well-deserving of the Professional Achievement award.