Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Each year, 51�� celebrates the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the month of January. The 2025 celebration aims to embody the theme: Marching Forward: Using Dr. King's Teachings to Heal a Divided Nation.

The week-long celebration honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with inclusive OHIO and regional communities tributes that highlights equality and social justice. We honor Dr. King for his work toward racial equality and justice for all people and for his dedication to nonviolence.

Featured Events: MLK Jr. Silent March and Brunch – Monday, January 20, 2025

These two featured events kick off OHIO's weeklong celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Silent March

The MLK Jr. 2025 Silent March will convene on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Church, located at 64 University Terrace, Athens, Ohio. The annual march, led by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is an opportunity to reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mission and impact.

Please note that this is a different location than in years past.

MLK Jr. Celebratory Brunch

Following the Silent March, the annual MLK Jr. Celebratory Brunch will take place in Baker Center Ballroom at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Food and refreshments will be provided. Tickets are required to attend. See below for details.

MLK Celebration Events

Tuesday, January 14 4:30 PM — 6:30 PM Zanesville Campus

Monday, January 20 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM 165 West 4th Street, Chillicothe, Ohio

Monday, January 20 9:30 AM — 10:00 AM Good Shepherd Church, located at 64 University Terrace

Monday, January 20 10:00 AM — 11:30 AM Baker Center

Tuesday, January 21 6:00 PM — 7:30 PM 51�� Lancaster

Thursday, January 23 12:00 PM — 3:00 PM Baker University Center

Tickets Available Now: MLK Jr. Celebratory Brunch – Monday, January 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m.

Each year, OHIO hosts a brunch to kick-off a week-long celebration to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's brunch will feature a keynote address by an OHIO alumna.

Individual Tickets: $10 for students and $30 for non-students. Children 5 and under are free; must be accompanied by an adult.
Table Sponsorships: $180 for student organizations and $500 for non-students, community organizations, and University departments; please note that a full table seats 8 guests.

To purchase department sponsorships and/or student organization sponsorships using a department account, please contact Pat Bungard bungard@ohio.edu or diversityinclusion@ohio.edu and provide a department account number.

Speakers and Guests

Dr. Tiffany Bowden, M.A., Ph.D. — Brunch Keynote Speaker

51�� two-time alumna Dr. Tiffany Bowden, M.A., Ph.D., is an anti-racism educator and diversity and communication specialist. Dr. Bowden holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from the E.W. Scripps College of Communication specializing in cultural studies and advertising management. As a Ted X speaker on diversity and inclusion and performer, she has been awarded a Top 5 People’s Choice Award. Dr. Bowden has been working within diversity for 20 years, with academic publications at the intersection of gender, identity, ethnicity. She has been featured in Ebony, Time, Vice, TED, Washington Post, Black Enterprise, Reuter’s, Bloomberg, High Times, CNN, and more.

Dr. Tiffany Bowden will serve as the annual MLK Jr. Celebration Brunch keynote speaker on Monday, January 15, 2024.

Dr. Clayborne Carson

Clayborne Carson has devoted most his professional life to the study of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the movements King inspired. He was selected in 1985 by the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King to edit and publish the papers of her late husband. Under his direction, the King Papers Project has produced seven volumes of King's speeches, sermons, correspondence, publications, and unpublished writings. Dr. Carson has also edited numerous other books based on King's papers. In 2005, the King Papers Project became part of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, with Carson serving as the institute's founding director.

Join us for “A Fireside Chat with Dr. Clayborne Carson” where Dr. Carson will be the live streamed speaker on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Event details can be found

Register for the chat

Jonathan Eig

Jonathan Eig is a successful writer and bestselling author of six books. His most recent, King: A Life, was hailed by the New York Times as the definitive biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Eig studied journalism at Northwestern University, and went on to work as a reporter for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, The Dallas Morning News, Chicago Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

Join us for a conversation with Eig on "Awakening from the Dream: Martin Luther King Jr., Then and Now" on January 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Baker Theatre.

Event details can be found

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee Members

The Division of Diversity and Inclusion would like to thank the MLK Jr. Celebration committee members for their contributions — including their time and energy — that ensure the event's success.

2024-2025 Committee Members

Committee Chair

Dr. Russell Morrow – Interim Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
morrowr@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Darnell McMullen – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Kenny Johnson – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Brandon Chestnut, Alumni- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Dr. Pam Kaylor – Professor of Instruction, Communication Studies and Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department (Lancaster Campus)
Dr. Vanessa Morgan Nai – Assistant Director, Belonging and Engagement in HCOM
Travis Gatling- Professor, School of Dance, College of Fine Arts
Tia Jameson – Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development and Inclusion, Division of Athletics
Lacey Rogers - DEI Coordinator, City of Athens
Courtney Lefebvre Little – Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
Pat Bungard – Administrative Specialist, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Courtney Burton – Administrative Services Associate, Multicultural Center
Nikki Ohms – Director, University Events, Event Services
Acie Clayborne – Assistant Director, Multicultural Programs
Dr. Letitia Price – Assistant Director, Women's Center
Jennifer Nyarko-Mensah – Graduate Assistant, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Catherine Nikoi – Graduate Assistant, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Avery Nelson- Mount Zion Black Cultural Center

Past Committee Members

2022–2023

Co-Chairs

Travis Gatling – Professor, School of Dance, College of Fine Arts
gatling@ohio.edu
Vanessa Morgan Nai – Assistant Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
morganv1@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Dr. Salome Nnoromele – Interim Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Jesean Williams – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Dr. Pam Kaylor – Professor of Instruction, Communication Studies and Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department (Lancaster Campus)
Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr. – Executive Director, Ohio Council of Churches
Micah McCarey – Director, Pride Center
Nancy Edwards-Grady - Assistant Director, Career and Employer Engagement
Tia Jameson – Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development and Inclusion, Division of Athletics
Elizabeth Pahl – Associate Director, University Event Services
Courtney Lefebvre Little – Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
Dr. Duane Bruce – Executive Director of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Pat Bungard – Administrative Specialist, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Shayne Lopez – Athens County Foundation
Lacey Rogers – DEI Coordinator, City of Athens

2021–2022

Co-Chairs

Travis Gatling – Director, School of Dance, College of Fine Arts
gatling@ohio.edu
Vanessa Morgan Nai – Coordinator for Multicultural Advising and African American Student Success, Office for Multicultural Success and Retention
morganv1@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Dr. Gigi Secuban (Ex-Officio) – Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Jesean Williams – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Dr. Pam Kaylor – Professor of Instruction, Communication Studies and Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department (Lancaster Campus)
Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr. – Executive Director, Ohio Council of Churches
Micah McCarey – Director, Pride Center
Tia Jameson – Director of Women's Basketball Operations, Division of Athletics
Elizabeth Pahl – Associate Director, University Event Services
Courtney Lefebvre Little – Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
Dr. Duane Bruce – Interim Assistant Director, Multicultural Center
Pat Bungard – Administrative Services Associate, Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention/Division of Diversity and Inclusion

2020–2021

Co-Chairs

Travis Gatling – Director, School of Dance, College of Fine Arts
gatling@ohio.edu
Vanessa Morgan Nai – Coordinator for Multicultural Advising and African American Student Success, Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention
morganv1@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Dr. Gigi Secuban (Ex-Officio) – Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Jaylen Braxton – President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Damon Scott – EBN Representative, College of Communication '89
Dr. Pam Kaylor – Professor of Instruction, Communication Studies and Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department (Lancaster Campus)
Katie Beth Miksa – University Interfaith Association
Dr. Paula Miller-Buckner – Assistant Professor, Sociology & Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Ebony Green – Assistant Dean for Advising & Student Services, University College
Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr. – Executive Director, Ohio Council of Churches
Micah McCarey – Director, Pride Center
Sheldon Andrus – Art Director, University Communications and Marketing
Dr. Jason White – Associate Clinical Professor, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences
Tia Jameson – Director of Women's Basketball Operations, Division of Athletics
Dr. Jason Rawls – Instructor of Teacher Education, Patton College of Education (Zanesville Campus)
Pat Bungard – Administrative Services Associate, Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention/Division of Diversity and Inclusion

2019–2020

Co-Chairs

Tyrone Carr, Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement/ Executive Director of The Interlink Alliance
carrt@ohio.edu
Tamika Williams, Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion, Career Network williat8@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Student Representatives – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Caryn Bailey – Assistant Director of Development, Diversity & Inclusion, University Wide Initiatives Division of University Advancement
Dr. Winsome Chunnu – Director, Multicultural Center
Dr. Theda Gibbs – Assistant Professor, Teacher Education
Amanda Graham – Executive Assistant, Diversity and Inclusion
Barbara Harrison – Assistant Director, Off-Campus Living
Christopher Kennedy – Digital Designer, University Communications and Marketing
George Mauzy – Multimedia Content Specialist, University Communications and Marketing
Rev. Evan Young – Campus Minister, United Campus Ministry
Lacey Rogers – Assistant Director, United Campus Ministry

2023-2024

Committee Chair

Vanessa Morgan Nai – Assistant Director, Office of Diversity and Inclusion
morganv1@ohio.edu

Committee Members

Dr. Russell Morrow – Interim Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Darnell McMullen – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Mason Stephens – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (representing members of the fraternity)
Dr. Pam Kaylor – Professor of Instruction, Communication Studies and Women's Gender, & Sexuality Studies Department (Lancaster Campus)
Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr. – Executive Director, Ohio Council of Churches
Nancy Edwards-Grady - Assistant Director, Career and Employer Engagement
Tia Jameson – Assistant Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development and Inclusion, Division of Athletics
Elizabeth Pahl – Assistant Director, Center for Entrepreneurship
Courtney Lefebvre Little – Assistant Director, Center for Community Engagement
Pat Bungard – Administrative Specialist, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Courtney Burton – Administrative Services Associate, Multicultural Center
Nikki Ohms – Director of Conference Services
Acie Clayborne – Assistant Director, Multicultural Programs
Dr. Letitia Price – Assistant Director, Women's Center
Jennifer Nyarko-Mensah – Graduate Assistant, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Nikoi Catherine – Graduate Assistant, Division of Diversity and Inclusion
Jordan Schmitt – Content Marketing Specialist, University Communications and Marketing

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