All Things Medical E7: Freda Marshall – Executive Director of the historic Dunbar Pavilion

BIO ~ Freda Marshall 

Freda Marshall serves as the Executive Director of the historic Dunbar Pavilion, where she leads with a deep commitment to advancing the social, cultural, and economic well-being of Tucson’s African American community. With more than a decade of experience in community building, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, Freda’s work centers on equity, access, and collective impact. 

A proud graduate of Wilberforce University, the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Freda honors the legacy of Dunbar—the city’s only segregated school for African American children—by ensuring its continued role as a cultural and educational anchor for the community. 

Freda currently serves on the Arizona Racial Justice Initiative Funding Council, where for the past two years she has helped guide the equitable distribution of resources to grassroots and BIPOC-led organizations statewide. She also serves as Chair of Social Action and Connection for a leading social organization, fostering programs that uplift and mobilize the community around issues of justice, advocacy, and civic engagement. 

In addition to her executive leadership, Freda collaborates with multiple social justice and community-based organizations to address systemic inequities and build pathways for empowerment. Her professional background includes extensive work with Goodwill Industries, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Department of Corrections, where she supported reentry, workforce development, and human services programs. 

Freda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Wilberforce University, a Master’s in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University, and multiple certifications as a Performance Coach and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner. 

Her leadership philosophy blends history, humanity, and hope—bridging the past with a forward-looking vision for equity in education and community advancement.