Driven to Succeed: An Inspirational Memoir of Lessons Learned Through Faith, Family and Favor

In her new memoir, “Driven To Succeed: Lessons Learned Through Faith, Family & Favor”, Dr. Hattie N. Washington reveals how a country girl, from the backwoods of Meherrin, Virginia, succeeded through life with optimism, “drive”, and a belief in God to become an honor student, a master teacher, a parent to two successful daughters (a physician and an attorney), and a foster parent to numerous abused foster boys over twenty-two years.

She writes about family, relationships, and the complexities of growing up during the segregation and desegregation era, where the strike at R.R. Moton High School, in Farmville, Virginia in 1951, led to the historic Brown v. Board of Education landmark case.  Her strong faith and high self-expectation shine through despite her two-room elemen-tary schoolhouse in Prince Edward County, VA closing in 1959 due to Virginia's massive resistance to the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation/civil rights landmark case.

You will read about how an ongoing series of personal setbacks brought on many stumbling blocks, yet she broke down barriers to complete her high school and college education; and made history by becoming the first female vice president of Coppin State University.  She shares the long journey of starting a non-profit boys’ home in Maryland for abused foster boys with special educational needs, named Aunt Hattie’s Place, whose young men affectionately calls her "Aunt Hattie".

She also discloses personal sacrifices and her dark family secrets that overflow with wisdom, lessons learned, and a call to action. Her riveting memoir is complete with historical and personal photographs of her life’s journey that provide inspiration for generations to come. 

NOTE:  Dr. Washington is the author of two books: “Driven To Succeed: Lessons Learned Through Faith, Family & Favor” and “Aunt Hattie’s Cookbook: Southern Comfort Food Favorites”.  For more information,  visit her website at www.drhnwashington.com or drhattie@washingtonpublishingenterprises.com or info@drhnwashington.com. 

Dr. Hattie N. Washington is nationally recognized for her work in the education, foster care and non-profit arenas. For over 22 years, she served as a Professor (tenured) of Education at Coppin State University (CSU) in Baltimore, Md; and for 8 of those 22 years, she was the Vice-President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the CSU Development Foundation. She founded Aunt Hattie's Place, Inc. (AHP), a 501 ©3 non-profit residential facility for males with special educational needs, and for 22 years, reared numerous abused foster boys. She is affectionately known as "Aunt Hattie" by her foster boys and AHP's staff. Their lives after AHP have proven to be fulfilling and on the right path. Dr. Washington's education includes a BS Degree in Elementary Education from Norfolk State University with a Minor in Special Education; Master's Degree from Ball State University (Athens, Greece Overseas Program) in Counseling Psychology; and a Doctorate from University of Maryland, College Park in Curriculum and Instruction. She has done further postgraduate study at Glasgow University in Glasgow, Scotland (Rotary International Scholarship) in Multiculturalism & Special Education Administration; Harvard University in Boston, MA in Executive Management; and Oxford University in London, England in Higher Education Accountability. She has been a teacher for over 35 years (in the United States and abroad-Scotland & Greece), a local and state administrator, TV Hostess, a national & international consultant, and trainer, an active civic and community leader, and was the PTA President of her two daughters' middle & high schools throughout their years in those grades. She is the mother of two accomplished daughters (a physician and an attorney) and a successful first foster son (an IT Specialist). Dr. Washington made history as the first female Vice President of Coppin State University, where she raised over $8 Million, instead of the given goal of $3 Million. Because of her love for teaching, she continued to teach one graduate course during her tenure as VP. Prior to VP, she was Assistant Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools, where the vision of Aunt Hattie's Place originated. Prior, she was Program Specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), evaluating Superintendents across Maryland. Dr. Washington travels the State and country as a motivational speaker, a master teacher; a child development specialist; an educational consultant; and a systemic trainer and change-maker. She's the recipient of numerous awards, including, The 2018 Maryland Women's Commission Hall of Fame Award. Dr. Washington states, "My work with Aunt Hattie's Place, Baltimore City Schools, MSDE, and at Coppin State were my ministries and grew out of my childhood experiences and a need to "give back" and "pay it forward. Throughout my career, I sought to uplift the lives of our youth while focusing on the unmet needs of foster boys, who were among the disenfranchised and whose circumstances threatened to rob them of their dreams for a bright future. Instead, they are becoming tax-paying citizens, rather than criminal justice statistics." Dr. Washington resides in Maryland, where she enjoys cooking southern cuisine, reading, writing, ballroom dancing, traveling, spending quality time with her granddaughters, other family members, and her foster boys, and doing God's work ("giving back"). She is also an author of two award-winning books: "Driven To Succeed: An Inspirational Memoir of Lessons Learned Through Faith, Family & Favor" and "Aunt Hattie's Cookbook: Southern Comfort Food Favorites". To learn more about Dr. Washington, to purchase her books, and to arrange speaking engagements, book signings, book discussions, workshops, etc., please contact the author directly at drhattie@washingtonpublishingenterprises.com or visit her website: www.drhnwashington.com.