The University of Hartford will continue its annual tradition of honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 12:45 to 2 p.m., in Lincoln Theater.
The theme for this year’s observance is “I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams.” This theme provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices and struggles of past generations who fought for equity and freedom. It calls on us to strive for greatness, work toward a just society, while continuing the fight for civil rights championed by Dr. King.
This observance program will feature a panel of distinguished leaders from the Connecticut region, sharing their accomplishments while inspiring pride, purpose, and hope for future generations. The four panelists are:
Josie Brown
Dean of Hillyer College and the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Hartford
Josie Brown, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and Hillyer College at the University of Hartford, received her PhD in English Literature & Culture from Stony Brook University; her areas of concentrations are African American Literature, Caribbean Literature, and Post-Colonial Theory & Literature. Dr. Brown identifies as a first-generation student, an immigrant, and a lifelong learner; she is committed to helping college students achieve success both inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Brown strives to live, work, and dream in a world that supports diversity and the cultivation of a pluralistic society.
Ronnell Higgins
Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
Ronnell Higgins serves as the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). In this role, he leads an agency of public servants dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services, utilizing enforcement, prevention, education, and state-of-the-art science and technology.
Higgins is actively involved in various government and community groups. He has been recognized for his influence and unwavering dedication to his work, including being named among the "Most Influential People in Security" by Security magazine and one of the "100 Most Influential Black People in Connecticut" by the Connecticut NAACP.
Yolande Nicholson Spears
Senior Vice President of Education & Chief Community Impact Officer, Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
Yolande N. Spears is senior vice president of education & chief community impact officer at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Connecticut’s premier performance venue for Broadway theatre, music, dance, children's theatre, and special events. As SVP of education, she co-created The Bushnell’s award-winning PARTNERS program lead by Mitchell Korn Arts. The program, which provides arts in education and is integrated into curriculum for students of all ages, is nationally recognized and the recipient of numerous awards, including a prestigious Dawson Award.
As an author, Spears wrote a short story, “Buttered Biscuits,” that was published in the bestselling motivational series Wake Up & Live the Life You Love. Her other book, The Gift: How Music & Family Saved a Young Girl, won the Purple Dragonfly Book Award’s 2013 national Grand Prize for excellence in children’s literature. In 2014, Spears received the Catalyst Award as a transformational leader, the 100 Women of Color Award in 2015, the Milestone Award from the National Guild for Community Arts Education in 2018, and the Remarkable Women in Business Award from the Hartford Business Journal. She was awarded the distinguished title of International Visiting Professor by the Central Academy of Drama, in Beijing, China.
Eboni Nelson
Dean and Professor of Law, University of Connecticut School of Law
Eboni S. Nelson became dean of the University of Connecticut School of Law on July 31, 2020. She came to UConn from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she taught for 13 years. From 2018 onward, she served as the associate dean for academic affairs. Her scholarship, which has been published in numerous law review journals and other publications, focuses on education law and policy.
Dean Nelson has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the state conference of the NAACP and is the recipient of the 2022 George W. Crawford Black Bar Association Visionary Award. The Hartford Business Journal included her on its 2022 Power 50 List of influential leaders in the Greater Hartford area, and the Northeast Black Law Students Association named her an Inaugural Violet King Henry Woman of Excellence Honoree.
Meet the panelist here (attachment).
Moderator: David Thompson ’89, M ’91, U.S. Vice President, Boston Scientific and Vice Chair, Board of Regents, University of Hartford.
The program will also include the presentation of the 2025 MLK Beloved Community Awards.
The annual MLK observance program is free and open to the public.
“No person has the right to rain on your dreams” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.