Reflecting on the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear UMB Community,
Today, as we honor the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I encourage each of us to reflect on his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and service.
Dr. King’s legacy reminds us that we each have the power to create meaningful change in the lives of others. In many ways, this same spirit underpins our University’s mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good through education, research, clinical care, and service.
Every year, the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) and Black History Month celebration combines inspirational speeches, vocal performances, and awards given to worthy colleagues and community members who embody the principles that guided Dr. King’s life and activism.
This year, the MLK and Black History Month event will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, at noon at MSTF Leadership Hall, with a reception featuring light fare to follow in the atrium. I encourage each of you to attend this in-person celebration by registering at this link.
This year’s keynote speaker is Chris T. Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM, a dynamic physician leader and social change agent known for her business acumen and public health expertise. Dr. Pernell serves as director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, where she advances its efforts to drive equitable health outcomes and transform health care systems while valuing the whole person. Before joining the NAACP, she launched The Esther Group, a public health consulting and health equity strategy firm that envisions a future where organizations, communities, and systems can innovate for a better world and humanity.
Also at the Feb. 5 event, the University will celebrate the winners of our MLK Leadership Awards, which honor students, faculty, and staff at UMB whose personal or professional work embodies Dr. King’s ideals and sustains his legacy of building a free and just society.
The student members of the Strategic Engagement and Impact Council at the School of Nursing will be honored as this year’s outstanding student group. Tonya Webb, PhD, professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and assistant dean for student engagement and student life, School of Medicine, will be recognized as the 2026 outstanding faculty member. And Det. Cpl. William Epperson, Department of Police and Public Safety, will be honored as this year’s outstanding staff member.
The winners of our Community Champion of Equity and Justice Awards will be recognized, as well: Rev. Franklin Lance, DMin, MDiv, senior pastor at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Baltimore and an advocate for community engagement and social change, and the CASH Campaign of Maryland, which provides tax-preparation services and financial education to low- and moderate-income citizens at our Community Engagement Center and throughout the state.
The celebration also will feature a spoken-word performance by Ephraim Nehemiah, a published writer, educator, actor, comedian, and nationally touring performer. We’ll also enjoy live music from the Scott Strother Jazz Combo, led by Scott Strother, MM, a seasoned musician and educator at Middle River Middle School in Baltimore County.
Please register today. I look forward to seeing you Feb. 5 at this exciting celebration.
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
