Dr. Debra Daniels, a Delta College alumna, was the recipient of the 2026 Michigan Community College Association Alumni Award for her long career of community college education work.
The recipient of the 2026 Michigan Community College Association Alumni Award is Dr. Debra Daniels, an alumna of Delta College. She was presented the award due to her more than four and a half decade career in community college education and her dedication to the success of her students.
Dr. Daniels earned her associate degree in dental assisting from Delta College back in 1975. Between 1978 and 1981 she returned to Delta College, this time as a member of the faculty to teach dental assisting. From there she started a career that allowed her to travel to community colleges all over America, including serving as president of San Bernardino Valley College in California, Taft College in California, and Joliet Junior College in Illinois.
Dr. Daniels was nominated for this award by Delta College due to her commitment to creating more educational opportunities for students, advancing the mission of community college during her career, and generally supporting the success of her students.
In an article posted on Delta College’s website, Dr. Daniels was quoted from her acceptance of the award at a ceremony dedicated to her. She spoke about her time listening to Delta Public Radio when she was a child, attending the college as a student, and her return as a faculty member.
“Delta College impacted my life three times, so, I owe a lot to Delta College, but my story is not different from the zillions of students that you all, as the community college system, serve every day,” she said.
She went on to note the importance of her time at Delta College to the start of her career, and the inspiration to help other students to be allowed the same opportunities she had.
More information about Delta College can be found at the school’s website.