First Lady Tonya Barge Edington is the wife of Maurice Edington, the 10th president of the University of the District of Columbia.

Mrs. Edington graduated from Eastern College (now Eastern University) in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and pledged the graduate chapter of Delta Kappa Omega in Tallahassee, Florida.

The First Lady has been active in community service with her sorority chapter, including serving on its scholarship committee and participating in community health projects, back-to-school drives for K-12 and college students, and other community activities.

Edington has worked in human resources for over 20 years in various industries, including retail and manufacturing. She also spent a decade in higher education. She currently works in HR for a marketing firm.

Mrs. Edington grew up on a farm in the small town of DeFuniak Springs in West Florida. Her passion for working with young people stems from being a part of a large family. She has one bonus child with President Edington—his daughter, Gabriella—as well as six siblings and 11 nieces and nephews.