RUTHERFORD, NJ — On January 29, 2026, Felician University proudly presented this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award to Shavonda Sumter, President & CEO of Children’s Aid & Family Services and New Jersey Assemblywoman for the 35th District. Hosted at Michael’s Riverside in Lyndhurst, NJ, the event brought together the Felician community to honor Sumter’s longstanding dedication to community service, policy reform, and social justice. 

 “On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Felician University, it is our distinct honor to recognize Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award. Shavonda Sumter exemplifies servant leadership at its highest level. We are proud to celebrate her achievements and grateful for the powerful example she sets for our students and for future generations of leaders committed to justice, dignity, and hope,” said Donald C. Jones, Chairman. 

About the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award 

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award was created in 2020 in reflection of Dr. King’s powerful commitment to hope and dignity in the face of injustice. To carry forward his legacy, Felician University annually honors individuals who embody Dr. King’s dream of equity and systemic change through their leadership, advocacy, and service to the common good. 

Past recipients of this award include U.S. Senator Cory Booker, four-time Olympian Joetta Clark-Diggs, former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, former Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, and New Jersey Senator Gordon Johnson. 

Creating Impact through Advocacy 

Sumter first entered the New Jersey General Assembly in 2012, serving in multiple executive leadership roles in the state’s government sector while also serving as Assemblywoman for the 35th Legislative District until January of this year. Leading a district of over 260,000 people across parts of Bergen and Passaic counties, Sumter fiercely advocated for the rights of voters, including those in vulnerable populations and citizens who critically rely on or work in the healthcare industry. 

Some of her proudest legislative accomplishments include addressing Black maternal and infant mortality in the state and, in 2020, working with former Governor Phil Murphy to restore voting rights for more than 80,000 individuals on probation or parole. Impressively, Sumter has remained a steadfast leader within New Jersey’s political and social landscape while also raising two children with her husband, Kenneth. 

Championing Access to Healthcare and Behavioral Health 

Sumter dedicated over 20 years of her professional career to advancing accessibility and growth within the healthcare industry before entering public service. Throughout her career, she held senior leadership roles in behavioral health and business development, helping hospitals expand inpatient psychiatric services, strengthen outpatient treatment programs, and improve community access to mental health care. 

She continued her journey to foster community well-being with her 2022 appointment as President and CEO of Children’s Health & Family Services, a non-profit dedicated to providing vital support to vulnerable children, adults, and families. The organization delivers comprehensive programs in behavioral health, family preservation, and social services that empower individuals to thrive and build stronger, more resilient communities. 

The organization launched an initiative in September 2025 to place newspaper-style “Buster Box” dispensers of Narcan around 12 towns, providing free lifesaving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Joined by the Marri family of River Edge, who established the Buster Spike Lucky Elkin Marri Love & Luck Fund with Children’s Health and Family Services in honor of their son, who passed from an overdose in 2021, the organization elevated the family’s mission to provide more thoughtful education on how we can approach and treat addiction. 

 A Role Model of Representation and Leadership 

Sumter was the first woman to chair the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, an organization that fosters collaboration between legislators and business leaders to drive meaningful change in our local communities. NJLBCF empowers the next generation of leaders by offering numerous scholarships and internship opportunities that provide students with professional, hands-on exposure to civic engagement and legislative policy. 

Jaylen Colon, class of 2024, and Olamide Ogunsolu, class of 2025, were just two of many interns from Felician University who transformed their classroom lessons into tangible research analysis and project management, directly benefiting underserved communities in New Jersey. “My assemblyman, William B. Sampson, was very big on giving back to the community, and to the families that don’t have much to give to their kids,” said Ogunsolu. “We did our own deal and hosted a back-to-school drive. We have to make sure our communities are satisfied and are getting what they need.” 

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About Felician University 

 Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supporting environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.