In fall 2022, Idaho Business Review named Lynda M. Freeman among 50 Idaho Women of the Year honorees from across Idaho, United States, recognized for their outstanding professional achievement, leadership, mentorship, and community service.

Freeman, clinical associate professor and academic skills specialist in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) medical education program at the University of Idaho, attends the Moscow Seventh-day Adventist Church in Moscow, Idaho.

“I was honored to be one of the 50 women in Idaho selected for this year’s award from the Idaho Business Review,” Freeman said. “It was nice for my hard work and contributions to be recognized.”

Freeman is co-founder of The Liberation Movement, Inc. and was this year’s guest speaker at The League of Women Voters. Freeman is also the first Black female faculty member in the University of Idaho WWAMI medical education program.

“Lynda is always mentoring the future of health care and medicine,” Jeff Seegmiller, director of the WWAMI medical education program, said. “She is meeting with underrepresented students and has used her privilege and experiences to help those who are less fortunate. She believes in equity for all.”

Freeman has shown her leadership skills over the years through her positions as faculty advisor for students in the Idaho WWAMI National Medical Association; member of the University of Idaho Black Faculty and Staff Association; and faculty co-advisor for the Black Student Union.

“I wish to share with other women to stay true to their mission,” Freeman said. “When operating in God's will, He will honor you even when others intend the opposite for you. My faith is the reason I can effectively do that work that I do. There have been numerous challenges and opportunities for discouragement, but the Holy Spirit has imparted the wisdom and encouragement necessary to navigate the bumps and boulders on this journey.”

Freeman was born to Fred and Jackie Murphy and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. 

“My parents valued Christian education,” Freeman said. “They made sacrifices to put my siblings and I through Adventist schools from kindergarten through college.”

Freeman attended Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy and Oakwood University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has studied community health, including rural health, and designed educational tools for health-care professionals serving these communities. 

Her experience coordinating a health education network in rural Alabama sparked her interest in adult learning and education. Freeman obtained her doctoral degree in health science from Nova Southeastern University and two master’s degrees, one in public health and one in business administration, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. 

“I strive to impact students, organizations, and the community with compassion and excellence,” Freeman said. “I am so grateful for this award acknowledging my work, and I hope it inspires more women — especially women of color — don’t stop. Even when it may, at times, feel lonely and hopeless, keep your faith. Get some rest, but don’t give up.”

The original version of this story was posted on North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner news site.