Community College of Philadelphia Foundation is proud to honor those individuals who uphold the ideals of the College and further our mission of empowering education for all.
Fatima Abbas ’05
Alumni Achievement Award
Fatima Abbas currently serves as the Director of the new Office of Tribal and Native Affairs within the United States Department of Treasury where she advises on Tribal tax and economic development issues. During her service at Treasury, she has led the implementation of over $30 billion in economic recovery funds for over 574 Tribes, many of which have poverty rates that are over 70% of their population.
Prior to Treasury, Fatima served as the Vice President of Government Relations at the National Congress of American Indians where she worked on legislation involve economic development and infrastructure for Tribes extending from Alaska to New York. Prior to NCAI, Fatima served Tribal governments in-house as the Karuk Tribe’s first General Counsel and the Colorado River Indian Tribes’ Deputy Attorney General and worked as a commercial litigator at the Fox Rothschild law firm in Philadelphia.
Fatima is a graduate of Berkeley Law School, Temple University, and the Community College of Philadelphia. Fatima grew up in the Feltonville Olney section of Philadelphia and is an enrolled citizen of the Haliwa Saponi Indian Tribe.
Susan Sherman
Community Hero Award
After graduating with her Master’s Degree in Nursing from New York University, Susan first taught nursing at NYU, later at Bronx Community College. She then worked for the National League for Nursing, Council of Associate Degree Programs. In 1980, she moved from New York to Pennsylvania, becoming both Chairperson of the Department for Nursing for the Community College of Philadelphia and the mother of two beautiful daughters. In 1993 she joined the Independence Foundation as a board member, and in 1996 was named President & CEO.
Susan Sherman served as President & CEO of the Independence Foundation from 1996—2024. The Independence Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to supporting programs in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania counties. It was under her tenure that the Foundation began its mission of supporting nonprofit organizations that provide services to people who ordinarily do not have access to them in the areas of nurse-managed health care, public interest legal services, arts and culture, and access to housing and food.
Susan was a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, National League for Nursing, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. She served on Advisory Committees for the American Academy of Nursing, MANNA, Inc., the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, and Students Run Philly Style. She has previously served as Chair of the Philadelphia Award Committee, Chair of the Council of Associate Degree Nursing Programs for the National League for Nursing, and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee. Susan has been a board member of Project HOME, the Philadelphia Zoological Society, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and the Academy of Vocal Arts, and a National Advisory Committee member for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Colleagues in Caring Project, and their local funding initiative. She currently serves as a board member of the Eisenhower Fellowships.
Susan has received the Caring Award from the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia, Public Health Management Corporation’s Carl Moore Leadership Award, Community College of Philadelphia’s Keystone Foundation Award and 40 Leaders Award, MANNA’s Outstanding Community Leadership Award, the Women’s Way of Philadelphia: Moving Women Forward Award, the Pennsylvania Legal Services Excellence Award, the New York University: School of Nursing Alumni Award, the University of Rhode Island Nursing Alumni Award, the American Academy of Nursing Civitas Award, and the Ross Laboratories Institutional Long Term Care Award.
Joe H. Tucker, Jr.
Corporate Leadership Award
Joe H. Tucker, Jr. is a lifelong Philadelphian raised in North Philadelphia whose career and life reflect an enduring commitment to excellence, leadership, and community impact. He is the Founder and CEO of Tucker Law Group and a nationally recognized trial lawyer with numerous jury trials and an impressive record of appellate success in state and federal courts. Joe represents international corporations, Fortune 100 companies, and major universities in high-stakes matters while advocating for individual plaintiffs in severe personal injury cases.
As the President-elect of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Joe is part of an elite group of attorneys dedicated to the highest trial advocacy and ethics standards. He has held numerous leadership positions within the Philadelphia Bar Association. He is a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer recognized for his complex civil litigation expertise and unwavering commitment to justice.
Beyond the courtroom, Joe’s roots in North Philadelphia inspire his dedication to service. He serves on the board of the Committee of Seventy, a leading nonpartisan organization focused on government accountability and civic engagement. His community service includes leadership roles with nonprofit organizations like the Support Center for Child Advocates and contributions as a supporter and host parent for A Better Chance. Joe frequently donates to local nonprofits supporting education initiatives through his Justice Education Fund charity. He has also established scholarships at Temple Law School to help economically disadvantaged students pursuing legal careers.
A passionate advocate for education and mentorship, Joe has taught Trial Advocacy at local law schools and lectured nationally on legal topics. He has served as the president of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as a proud alumnus of Howard University and Temple Law School. Before practicing law, Joe began his career as a certified public accountant in New York.
Joe Tucker’s leadership in his profession and community reflects a deep commitment to making Philadelphia—and the world—a better place for future generations.