Federal Way resident Doris Martinez was named Exempt Staff of the Year at Highline College. She was one of four staff and faculty members honored for professional excellence and achievements in four categories at the college’s annual employee luncheon in June.

Martinez has worked at Highline since 2014 and serves as director for student diversity and inclusion. Among those nominating her, one colleague noted her campus leadership.

“The leadership she has shown in the Highline College Faculty and Staff of Color committee is exemplary,” said a colleague, who witnessed Martinez in a challenging situation. “Doris navigated the conflict gracefully and … earned the respect of those involved.”

A child of immigrant parents, Martinez is a Honduran American of Garifuna decent who was raised to value education, which included knowing her family, language and heritage. This resulted in living in Honduras with her maternal grandmother during her elementary years, meeting extended family and becoming trilingual.

After graduating from Highline College in 2007, she continued her studies at Seattle University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications in 2009 and a master’s degree in student development administration in 2011.

Other winners were Ron Godfrey, a Burien native now living in Eatonville; Allison Green of Seattle; and Indira Hazbic of SeaTac.

Employees are nominated through a confidential process by Highline students and/or peers. Along with the award, each received $1,500, courtesy of the Highline College Foundation.

Highline College has been honoring employees for more than 30 years, beginning with the 1987–88 academic year.