The Twelfth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture
Honoring the history of inclusion and diversity at Springfield College

June 14, 1964, was one of the greatest days in Springfield College history.

That was the day when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the College’s commencement address. Taking place at the height of his fame and the height of the Civil Rights Movement, it also happened in a remarkable context. That included both pressure from the FBI on the College to cancel the speech, and King’s arrest and imprisonment three days before he was scheduled to appear. 2025 marks the 61st anniversary of these events. March 3 will mark the 12th annual MLK Lecture.

This year’s event is not really a lecture at all. It is a thought-provoking conversation rooted in King’s own political and prophetic thought and advocacy in both historical and contemporary contexts. The discussion will assist us in understanding how racial, ethnic, gender, and/or class issues have influenced the current political landscape in the United States.

Our esteemed panelists include State Sen. Adam Gomez, Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley, and Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services CEO Shannon M. Rudder. Moderating the talk will be Terry Powe ’96, Board of Trustees member and co-chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee.

Panelists:

State Sen. Adam Gomez has proudly served the Hampden District, consisting of the communities of Springfield and Chicopee since 2021. He serves as the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, and vice chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. A former small business owner and a tireless advocate for veterans and Black and Latino communities, he is the first Latino from Hampden District to serve in the Massachusetts Senate.

Danielle R. Holley is the 20th president of Mount Holyoke College and its first permanent Black president in the College’s 186-year history. A lauded and sought-after expert on a wide range of civil rights and equity subjects, Holley has offered her academic analysis of topics related to desegregation, racial discrimination and affirmative action, the history of the Civil Rights Movement, diversifying K-12 pipelines to higher education, admission of undocumented immigrants to public colleges and universities, women in academic leadership, and reproductive rights.

Shannon M. Rudder has served as the president and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services since March 2023. With more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, Rudder is a transformation leader known for her visionary approach and is deeply committed to social and economic justice; a champion for equity, belonging, and anti-oppression; a staunch community collaborator and a strong organizer.

This event, presented by the Division of Campus Life and Inclusion, is free and open to the Springfield College community and the public.

For more information, please reach out to campuslife@springfield.edu.

Accessibility and Accommodations
Springfield College is committed to hosting inclusive and accessible services, programs, and activities. To request an accommodation to participate in a College event, or inquire about accessibility, please contact the Academic Success Center Disability and Accessibility Services at ascdas@springfieldcollege.edu or (413) 748-3389.

A Wellness Passport Event