Our Annual Convocation
The event will take place on February 12, 2025.
Beloved Community: Forging Justice, Peace, and Freedom
This year, as we gather to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are inspired by his vision of the Beloved Community—a society where justice, peace, and freedom prevail and where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Our theme, Beloved Community: Forging Justice, Peace, and Freedom, invites us to reflect on our collective role in making this vision a reality.
During Dream Week in February 2025, we will host events designed to foster dialogue, encourage reflection, and inspire action. Each event will be an opportunity to explore the principles Dr. King championed: compassion, understanding, and unwavering dedication to justice. From lectures and workshops to community service and artistic expression, Dream Week will offer a path for us to engage in meaningful ways.
Justice, Peace, and Freedom for All
Let us use this time to strengthen our bonds, challenge our perspectives, and contribute to a community that truly embodies the values of justice, peace, and freedom.
Dr. King's words, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," remind us of our shared responsibility.
Together, let us forge the Beloved Community he envisioned.
Convocation Speaker
Edwidge Danticat
Edwidge Danticat is the Wun Tsun Tam Mellon Professor of the Humanities in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University. She received her B.A. in French Literature from Barnard College and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brown University. She is the author of seventeen books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection, Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist, The Farming of Bones, an American Book Award winner; the novels-in-stories, The Dew Breaker, Claire of the Sea Light, and The Art of Death, a National Book Critics Circle finalist for Criticism. She has written seven books for children and young adults, a travel narrative, After the Dance, and a collection of essays, Create Dangerously.
More About Edwidge
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 10
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Barone Campus Center, Lower Level
Vision Awards
Tuesday, February 11
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Oak Room
Register Now
MLK Convocation
Wednesday, February 12
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Quick Center
Register Now
Celebration of Activism
Thursday, February 13
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Dolan Event Hall
Youth Leadership Academy
Friday, February 21
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Barone Campus Center 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.