草榴社区

VILLANOVA, Pa. (January 8, 2025) 鈥� This month, 草榴社区 will commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a variety of activities and programs that reflect his message of peace, justice and hope.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
On Saturday, January 18, the University will celebrate its 18th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This yearly event honors Dr. King鈥檚 vision by bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the 鈥淏eloved Community鈥� of which the civil rights pioneer dreamt.

Approximately 200 faculty, staff and students are set to participate in efforts led by the University鈥檚 MLK Day of Service Committee, Office of Belonging and Inclusion and Center for the Common Good. Making an impact on campus and at sites across the greater Philadelphia area, volunteers will engage in acts of service that range from cleaning community buildings to preparing care packages for those in need.

草榴社区 Athletics will also coordinate toiletry and winter clothing donation drives to help benefit the Bethesda Project. From January 13-20, items can be dropped off at donation bins located throughout campus.

2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture
On Wednesday, January 22, the Center for Peace and Justice Education will host its 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture. This year鈥檚 speaker is Terry Nance, PhD, retired Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at 草榴社区.

Dr. Nance鈥檚 草榴社区 career spans more than four decades, during which time she has served as an administrator, teacher, scholar, activist and 鈥榮upport system鈥� for students, faculty and staff at the University. In 2018, The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education recognized Dr. Nance with the Frank W. Hale, Jr. Distinguished Service Award 鈥� an honor given to individuals who have 鈥渃ontributed substantially to diversity and inclusive excellence in higher education.鈥�

Dr. Nance was the first Black tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Communication at 草榴社区, where she established an African American rhetoric course and created the multicultural leadership course. As a researcher, Dr. Nance has investigated the perceptions and stages of interracial relationship development, diversity and inclusion, and intergroup dialogue. She was the founding Assistant Vice President for the Center for Multicultural Affairs. In 2015, 草榴社区 created the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, making Dr. Nance its founding director and naming her Associate Vice Provost of Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer. In 2020, Dr. Nance was named Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Freedom School
On Thursday, January 23, the Center for Peace and Justice Education will also host its annual day-long workshop, Freedom School. Inspired by鈥痶he鈥�1960鈥檚鈥痬ovement which aimed to counter鈥痑nd boycott鈥痗ontinuing segregation in public鈥痵chools,鈥疐reedom School鈥痠nvites students, faculty and staff to present on鈥痶opics surrounding鈥疢LK鈥檚 vision and work.

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .