Eric Johnson, an education professor at Washington State University Tri-Cities, has been awarded WSU's Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award.

Johnson is focused on bilingual and English as a second language education and is liaison for the Richland campus to the Latino community, according to a news release.

He has researched language policy and planning, immigrant communities and bilingual education.

University officials said Johnson is noted for his philosophy of inclusion regarding education and an advocate for first-generation and non-native English-speaking students.

Johnson will be recognized for the award at a celebration at WSU's Pullman campus on Jan. 24.