Our Annual Convocation
The event will take place on February 11, 2026.
Challenging Injustice: Fear as Fuel for Change
We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by striving to embody his message today. Dr. King faced fear throughout his life, confronting many threats and uncertainties. What made his leadership impactful was his decision to press on regardless. He transformed fear into courage, and courage into action.
This year, our theme is "Challenging Injustice: Fear as Fuel for Change." It encourages each of us to take steps toward justice even when we feel unsure. We are part of a community that continually works for dignity, safety, and belonging for everyone. When we face uncertainty or struggle, fear can make us pause. It can also remind us of what is worth protecting. Together, we can choose to turn that fear into motivation, lift our voices, and take action toward creating a more just and caring world.
Each event this year will provide space to explore the courage Dr. King and others exemplified. Courage that speaks up, challenges injustice, and advances even when fear is present. Through lectures, workshops, service opportunities, and creative expression, MLK Week 2026 will help us learn, reflect, and act purposefully. Every gathering will encourage us to overcome hesitation, build solidarity, and take steps toward the change our communities deserve.
Convocation Speaker
Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.
One of the nation’s most prominent scholars, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., is an author, political commentator, public intellectual, and passionate educator who examines the complex dynamics of the American experience. His writings, including Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America, and his most recent New York Times bestseller, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, explore Black communities, the difficulties of race in the United States, and the challenges we face as a democracy.
Glaude is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and the former Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University (2009–2023). He also serves on the Morehouse College Board of Trustees. A columnist for TIME Magazine and an MSNBC contributor on programs such as Morning Joe and Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace, Dr. Glaude is a leading voice in contemporary discussions on race, democracy, and moral leadership.
2025 Award Winners
FACULTY
Nicole Fletcher, PhD
Assistant Professor of Educational Studies and Teacher Preparation
Watch the Faculty Award Video
STAFF
Lisa Thornell
Head of Library Outreach & Communications
Watch the Staff Award Video
STUDENT
Rishi Black ’25
Blessed Stephen ’25
Watch Rishi Black's Award Video
Watch Blessed Stephen's Award Video
COMMMUNITY
Janet Ortiz
Program Director, Urban Impact
Watch the Community Award Video
Schedule of Events
Teach In
Monday, February 9
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Barone Campus Center, Lower Level
Vision Awards
Tuesday, February 10
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Oak Room
MLK Convocation
Wednesday, February 11
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Quick Center
Douglass Day Transcribe-A-Thon & Lunch
Friday, February 13
12 - 3 p.m.
DiMenna-Nyselius Library
Celebration of Activism
Wednesday, February 18
12 - 2 p.m.
Oak Hall
Youth Leadership Academy
Friday, February 20
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Oak room
Martin Luther King Jr. Vision Award
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee honors the legacy of Dr. King’s untiring commitment to racial justice, locating his lifelong efforts squarely within the Jesuit mission of our university.
Recognize Individuals
As a campus-wide group, we organize a series of events including a Convocation in recognition of the national MLK holiday. In furthering Dr. King’s legacy, we promote the struggle for racial justice as necessarily grounded in peace, love, nonviolence, and a recognition of human dignity. We align our mission with that of the University to encourage our community to develop and commit to a sense of social responsibility.
The Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration Committee will recognize individuals (faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students) whose record of personal and institutional achievement in areas of leadership and service reflect a strong commitment to advancing the ideals and values of Martin Luther King through courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility, and service.
Nomination FormMahfouz Soumare '22
Nat Bush, MSW '22
Sonya Huber, PhD
Nakia Letang
Kenneth Smith
2024
Student: Habibul Huq ’24
Staff: Rony Delva
Faculty: Rose Rodrigues, PhD
Community: Vanessa Liles
2023
Student: Aliyah Seenauth ’24
Staff: Julia Duffy, APRN, FNP-BC
Faculty: Alfred Babo, PhD
Community: Callie Gale Heilmann and Gemeem Davis
2022
Student: Mahfouz Soumare '22 and Nat Bush, MSW '22
Staff: Nakia Letang
Faculty: Sonya Huber, PhD
2021
Student: Nya Jones ‘23
Staff: Andrea Canuel
Faculty: Janie Leatherman, PhD
2020
Student: Luckario Alcide ‘21
Staff: Julie Bararo Mughal
Faculty: Silvia Marsans-Sakly, PhD
2019
Student: Sydney Williams ‘19
Staff: Sharon Daly
Faculty: Maggie Ann Labinski, PhD
2018
Student: Sophia Bolanos '18
Faculty: Dr. Kris Sealey
2017
Student: Anmol Tabassum '18
Faculty: Dr. Paul Lakeland
Staff: Dr. Ophelie Rowe-Allen
2016
Student: Michael Joe Harding '18
Faculty: Dr. Bryan Ripley Crandall
Staff: Sydney Johnson
2015
Student: Nicole Davidow '15
Faculty: Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka
Staff: Will Johnson
2014
Student: Eric Salgado ’14
Faculty: Dr. Yohuru Williams
Staff: Jocelyn Collen '06
2013
Student: Sharon Pedassa '13
Faculty: Dr. David Brown
Staff: Wylie Blake
2012
Student: Jasmine Fernandez '12
Faculty: Dr. Deb Chappell
Staff: Melissa Quan
2011
Student: Shawne Lomauro '11
Faculty: Meredith Marquez
Staff: Dr. Danke Li
2010
Student: Sarah L. Gatti '10
Community: Roberto Sanchez
Staff: Dr. Johana Garvey
2009
Student: Michael Cicirelli '10
Staff: Jim Fitzpatrick
Community: Denise Taylor
Faculty: Dr. Ellen Umansky
2008
Student: Peter Otoki ‘08
Student: Frank Fraioli ‘08
Faculty: Dr. Michael Tucker
Community: James Smith
Special: Sr Julianna Poole, SSND, PhD
2007
Student: Ashley Toombs '07
Community: Charles B Tisdale
Staff: Barbara Kiernan
Alumni: Danielle K. Hawthorne '91
2006
Faculty: Dr. Winston Tellis
Alumni: Paula Donovan '77 '88
Community: Dr. & Mrs. Barone
Student: Chrystie Cruz '07
2005
Community: Dr. Elizabeth Gardner
Community: Rev. Paul Merry
Alumni: Ellen Morgan esq '86
Student: Oriena Cowan '05
Student: Katherine Canner-O'Mealy '05
2004
Faculty: Dr. Judy Primavera
Community: George Bellinger
Alumni: Dr. Robert Smith Jr. '74
Student: Francesca Cobb '04
Student: Burim Gjidija '05
2003
University: Dr. Walter Petry
Community: Stanley Arrington
2002
University: Andre Willis
Alumni: Richard Fuller Sr. '77
Community: Rev. John S. Kidd
Community: Rev. Phyllis J Leopold
2001
Faculty: Dr. Elizabeth Hohl
Alumni: Edward Brennan '65
Alumni: Kathy Niznansky M'81
Alumni: Felipe Reinoso M'88
2024 MLK Award Recipients
2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Essay Contest - Jaedyn Pinkney
At Home and Abroad: A Roundtable Conversation with Robin D.G. Kelley
Celebration of Activism
2021 MLK Vision Award - Andrea Canuel
2021 MLK Vision Award - Dr. Janie Leatherman
2021 MLK Vision Award - Nya Jones
Ripple of Hope Scholarship
Fairfield University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee invites undergraduate students to apply for 2025 Ripple of Hope Scholarships. Scholarships are in the amount of $1,000 and will be awarded through the Office of Financial Aid.We are seeking Fairfield University students that exhibit the moral courage and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. within the Fairfield community. Are you impacting change through issues of racial justice, gender equality, environmental justice, immigration, or other issues? Share how you maintain a spirit of hope and dignity as you seek to change the world.