CORVALLIS, Oregon – Yuba College President Tawny Dotson was honored with the 2024 Adult and Higher Education Distinguished Alumni Award from Oregon State University's School of Education.

The award was presented to her at the Charles E. Carpenter Lecture at the OSU Portland Center on Feb. 22.

Each year, the prestigious award recognizes a prominent alumnus who has made distinct and transformative contributions to the field of higher education at the organizational, regional or national level. With lasting impacts in various areas, including leadership and service, they are respected role models for students and alumni.

Clover Park Technical College’s Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness Samantha Dana, a colleague and friend of Dotson, said she couldn’t think of a better recipient of the award.

“I was so pleased to witness Tawny receive the AHE Distinguished Alumni Award,” said Dana. “I've had the pleasure of working for and with her and cannot begin to describe the positive impact she has had on me, both personally and professionally. There truly aren't enough words to describe the lasting mark she has made, and I hope this award serves as a reminder to her of the many lives she has touched.”

Dotson said she is humbled by the recognition and credits the countless people and organizations who have been a part of her journey.

“This recognition of my work by OSU is truly an honor, but it is more a testament to the team that I have an opportunity to work with than it is my own efforts,” said Dotson. “Yuba College and the Yuba-Sutter Community have embraced me, supported our joint goals, and together we are elevating our economy and our community.”

Dotson holds a bachelor of arts from Washington State University, a master of arts from the University of Missouri and her Doctor of Education from OSU in Community College Leadership.

She began her career as an active duty Air Force officer at Beale Air Force Base. After transitioning off active duty, she worked at post-secondary education institutions in Oklahoma, Washington and California.

Demonstrating her commitment to continuous growth, Dotson is a graduate of the Aspen Institute Rising Presidents Fellowship, the University of California Davis’ Wheelhouse Institute and the Community College League of California, or CCLC, Vineyard Symposium.

Dotson serves on CCLC’s CEO Funding Policies Task Force and its CEO Strategic Leadership Program Advisory Committee. She is also a regional CEO representative on the California Community College Athletics Association Board. She has served as the vice chair (2022-23) and chair (2023-24) of accreditation visits for Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

Staying active and contributing to the community is important to Dotson. She is a two-time past Rotary Club president, Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Rotary Club of Marysville, Calif.

In addition she serves on the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation’s Business Consortium, the California State University Sacramento’s Advisory Board for their Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, is a board member for the North Central Counties Consortium Workforce Development Board, and an Executive Board Member for the North Central Adult Education Consortium.

Dotson has been the president of Yuba College since 2020 and continues to serve in the California Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel.

“Each day, I have the privilege of using the tools OSU gave me to fulfill my goal of working alongside a remarkable team to lift students at Yuba College to achieve their goals,” she said. “I am grateful to the university for setting me up to succeed so others can excel.”