Villanova University Set to Celebrate the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
VILLANOVA, Pa. (January 12, 2026) — This month, Villanova University 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 Monday, January 19, the University will celebrate its 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. This yearly event honors Dr. King’s vision by bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” of which the civil rights pioneer dreamt.
Students, alumni, staff and faculty are set to participate in efforts led by Villanova’s MLK Day of Service Committee, the Office of Belonging and Inclusion and the St. Thomas of Villanova 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.
In addition, Villanova Athletics is partnering with the Christian Street YMCA in Philadelphia to support teens in the YMCA NextGen program. To assist the program’s Career and College Readiness initiative, they are collecting notebooks, school supplies and other items through Amazon Wishlist to help teens prepare for job and college interviews.
2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Lecture
On Tuesday, January 20, the Center for Peace and Justice Education will host its 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote Lecture. This year’s speaker is Molefi Kete Asante, PhD, a professor in the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University, where he founded the first doctoral program in African American Studies.
Among the world’s most prolific African American scholars, Dr. Asante has published more than 500 articles and written more than 100 books, including The Perilous Center, or When Will the African Center Hold; The History of Africa, 3rd Edition; and the memoir As I Run Toward Africa. In addition, Dr. Asante has been recognized with more than 100 awards, honorary doctorates and distinguished professorships over the course of his influential career and has directed more than 140 doctoral dissertations.
Freedom School
On Thursday, January 22, the Center for Peace and Justice Education will also host its annual day-long workshop, Freedom School. Inspired by the 1960s movement which aimed to counter and boycott continuing segregation in public schools, Freedom School invites students, faculty and staff to present on topics surrounding Dr. King’s vision and work.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s 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—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.