Campus to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Educational, commemorative and service-focused events will commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at SUNY Fredonia.

Programming in the week-long series —which begins Friday, Jan. 30, and concludes Saturday, Feb. 7 — features a celebration of Dr. King’s vision, alumni spotlight speakers, a keynote address by an alumnus and a community Day of Service. All events are free and open to the public.

This year’s observance holds special significance, as it coincides with the launch of SUNY Fredonia’s Bicentennial celebration, said President Stephen H. Kolison Jr.

“As we begin reflecting on our institution’s 200-year history, it is fitting that we do so by centering values that have long defined Fredonia: education for the public good, service to others, inclusive excellence and community engagement,” Dr. Kolison said.

“Events are designed to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in reflection, learning and civic engagement aligned with Dr. King’s values of justice, service and collective action,” said Chief Diversity Officer Vicki T. Sapp.

"Events are designed to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in reflection, learning and civic engagement aligned with Dr. King’s values of justice, service and collective action.” - Chief Diversity Officer Vicki T. Sapp

The host of Martin Luther King Jr. events is the campus’ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Presidential Commission, whose co-chairs are Dr. Sapp and Vice President for Student Affairs Tracy Stenger.

“As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I invite the SUNY Fredonia and Chautauqua County communities to join us in reflection, dialogue, and action. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as it marks the beginning of SUNY Fredonia’s Bicentennial,” Sapp explained.

Events will be held in Williams Center Multipurpose Room and its Blue Lounge, Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall and various non-profit sites in the surrounding community.

Sponsors of Martin Luther King Jr. events are the Carnahan Jackson Humanities Fund and the Collingwood Diversity Endowment Fund, both through the Fredonia College Foundation; the campus Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and Partners for Campus-Community Engagement.

Key events include:

• Raising Our Voices – a student forum featuring student clubs and scholars, Friday, Jan. 30, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Williams Center Multipurpose Room.
• Alumni Spotlight Speaker Series – informal talks that highlight four distinguished alumni, Monday through Thursday, Feb. 2 through 5, at various times in the Williams Center Blue Lounge.
• Keynote address – alumnus Frank S. Williams will speak Friday, Feb. 6, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., in Rosch Recital Hall.
• Day of Service on Saturday, Feb. 7 – students will partner with local non-profit organizations.

Raising Our Voices is a showcase of students’ unique talents and skills through music, dance, poetry and performance. Dr. Stenger will welcome guests and present an event overview. 

“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black national anthem, will be sung by Diavonté Allen, a senior from Rochester, NY, majoring in Music Industry and Communication: Audio Production, with minors in Music and Film Studies.

The student band Sandbox, a music collective that mainly performs R&B and rap music, and Dynamic Intonation, a student club that combines the musical stylings of a cappella and jazz, will perform.

Director of Multicultural Support Services David M. White will present information on the Rosa Parks Scholarship program.

“Raising our Voices program is designed to provide students and clubs the opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and honor his life through creative expression, such as in songs, dances and performances,” said Director of Campus Life Mark Suida.

This “kick-off” event is open to all, and everyone is encouraged to support Fredonia students and clubs who are coming together to perform in honor of Dr. King, Mr. Suida added. Closing remarks will be offered by Sapp and Mr. Suida.

The Alumni Spotlight Speaker Series will feature fireside chats in the Blue Lounge in the Williams Center, beginning Monday, Feb. 2, led by the following: 

• Markasia McCreary (‘22, Public Accountancy and Business Administration: Management) Monday, from noon to 1 p.m. She is passionate about service and mentorship and leads Big Sis Lil Sis, a ministry for teen girls. Ms. McCreary is an accountant with the Niagara Falls City School District and is also pursuing an MBA.
• Nikkie Herman (‘98, Adolescence Education: English), Tuesday, from f12:30 to 1:30 p.m. In a student affairs career that spans over 20 years, Ms. Herman has served as a chief diversity officer, Title IX coordinator and Affirmative Action officer. She leads a dedicated team as director of DEIJ Education at the University of Rochester.
• Dr. Remi Adelaiye-Ogala (‘09, Biochemistry) Wednesday, from noon to 1 p.m. Dr. Adelaiye-Ogala's research at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University at Buffalo examines mechanisms of therapeutic resistance in genitourinary cancers to improve long-term clinical outcomes. She earned a Ph.D. in Cancer Pathology from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division at UB and is an assistant professor of medicine and clinical assistant professor of urology at the Jacobs School.
• Zyris McCormick (‘11, Criminal Justice) Thursday, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. His career across multiple industries is guided by a service-driven mindset. Mr. McCormick’s support of at-risk youth, seniors, individuals with disabilities and low-income families has shaped his belief that people, not transactions, matter. He applies that same dedication as a real estate agent with a Buffalo real estate group.

In the keynote address, Mr. Williams will focus on his SUNY Fredonia experience, life and career as they relate to Dr. King’s life and legacy and the current climate and world stage.  

Williams has served as an administrator in higher education in Western New York for 25 years in positions that include career counselor (State University at Buffalo), hall director and judicial officer (SUNY Brockport), transfer coordinator and assistant director of Admissions (SUNY Fredonia), Educational Opportunity Program counselor (SUNY Buffalo State University); vice president for Enrollment Management (Daemen University); director of Student Support Services (State University at Buffalo); and vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and associate vice president for Advanced Enrollment and Partnerships (Nazareth University).

Recognizing the importance of education, the Buffalo, NY, native speaks throughout New York state and nationally to students, parents and educators with the goal of expanding the college-going community.

Williams received a B.A., majoring in English Secondary Education, with a minor in Sociology, at SUNY Fredonia in 1997 and a Master of Education in College Student Services and Development from the State University at Buffalo in 1999. He currently serves as an associate minister at Greater Works Fellowship Church and is a licensed realtor.

Winners of a Creativity Contest, which invited area middle and high school students to share their perspectives on Dr. King’s enduring vision for an inclusive and equitable society where education serves as a powerful tool for empowerment, equality and community growth, will be awarded at the keynote presentation.

The week’s concluding event, a Day of Service, on Saturday, Feb. 7, will see students joining together to support local non-profit organizations to facilitate volunteerism through community service activities. Students are invited to assist the following organizations: 

• Chautauqua County Rural Ministry — serving in its food pantry and garment gallery;
• Resource Center — making bird houses and benches from Home Depot kits;
• American Red Cross — installing smoke detectors in community houses;
• Lakeshore Humane Society — walking and bathing dogs; 
• Salvation Army — painting.

Students can also serve at Prevention Works, performing general office tasks and data survey collection, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

For more Day of Service information or to register, reach out to Suida at suida@fredonia.edu