Illuminating MLK’s Legacy and the Women Who Shaped It
Régine Jean-Charles, a Wellesley native and Dean’s Professor of Culture and Social Justice at Northeastern University, always knew she wanted to be a college professor.
“I love to read. I love to write. I love to think. And I love to talk,” she shared during her keynote address at Babson College’s 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day event.
But, above all, Jean-Charles told the audience in the Carling-Sorenson Theater, she loves teaching students how to think.
“Critical thinking, which is what we teach in the Humanities, is essential for life,” she said. “No matter what field you go into—business, medicine, engineering—critical thinking is a tool that is required.”
Jean-Charles believes teaching students how to think, rather than what to think, fosters a liberated mindset. “I love seeing that happen in young people,” she said.
Through this lens of critical thinking, Jean-Charles explored King’s legacy, highlighting the often-overlooked Black women who fought for equality alongside him. She spoke about civil rights leader Ella Baker and Black feminist poet June Jordan, emphasizing their crucial contributions.
“Martin Luther King is a towering figure whose ubiquity often obscures the work of others, especially women,” Jean-Charles said. She underscored how Baker, Jordan, and many others demonstrated that “Black women have lit the path of love and justice through their activism, advocacy, and writing.”
Light, Love, and Liberation
Denicia Ratley, senior director of Babson’s Office of Belonging and Inclusion, kicked off the lively event by detailing its theme of Light, Love, and Liberation.
“Light, because Dr. King believed in the power of truth and faith that dispels darkness. Love, because Dr. King preached that love is the radical and transformative force that drives out hate. And liberation, because Dr. King embodied the realization that it is only when we are all free that we would reach the fullness and highest of humanity,” Ratley said.
In an opening video, President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD reminded the audience that honoring King’s legacy requires collective effort.
“Today, our community gathers to celebrate the lasting legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” Spinelli said. “In that celebration, we remind ourselves of our responsibility to build a more just and equitable tomorrow—one that embraces difference, shines light where needed most, and leads with respect, love, and impact.”
Babson’s Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer, Sadie Burton-Goss, thanked all who helped work on the event and those in attendance, including new Provost Ariel Armony. She then led an interactive moment of unity, asking attendees to reach out and touch the people seated near them.
“When Babson people come together for a common goal and to create community, this is what it feels like,” she said. “As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, let us nurture the power of community. Let us forge connections that transcend our differences. Let us embrace the light of hope, the power of love, and the pursuit of liberation—not just for some, but for all.”
MLK Leadership Award Winners
Later in the evening, History and Society Professor Marjorie Feld and Associate Professor of Economics Megan Way took the stage to present the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Awards, which recognize Babson community members who embody King’s principles.
“It is an honor to recognize these outstanding students, staff, faculty, and alumni—leaders who reflect Dr. King’s essence as a champion for humanity, peace, justice, and civil liberty,” Way said.
The honorees this year included Sevyn Williams ’25 (undergraduate student), Shenaya Martin Johnson MBA’25 (graduate student), Kadia Tubman ’13 (alumni), Natalie Joseph (staff), and Vincent (Vini) Onyemah (faculty).
Here are comments from those who nominated this year’s MLK Leadership Award winners:
Sevyn Williams ’25: “Sevyn worked to challenge and address discriminatory practices or policies on campus, has led and participated in initiatives aimed at raising awareness about diversity and inclusion. They’ve contributed to the betterment of society through volunteering and activism, fostered collaborations between different cultural, racial and social groups, and they’ve created and supportive, inclusive spaces for individuals from diverse backgrounds.”
Shenaya Martin Johnson MBA’25: “As the founder and president of Moms of Babson, Shenaya has not only created a vital space for mothers, but has expanded it into a resourceful outlet for all parents, striving to balance parenthood with work and school. Her efforts go far beyond simply offering support. She organizes events, collaborates with others, and continuously works to ensure that parents have the tools they need to integrate both their personal and professional live.”
Kadia Tubman ’13: “Since graduating, Kadia has gotten her master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University, gotten married to the love of her life, whom she met while she was here, worked as a journalist at Yahoo, MSNBC, and Scripps News, and worked tirelessly for the Posse Foundation and the Jeremiah Program in New York. She was a tireless leader on racial and gender issues while at Babson, and has continued to be a clarion voice defending and lifting up marginalized communities everywhere.”
Natalie Joseph, associate director of Innovative Learner Campus Programs at the Frank and Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership, and former director of Babson’s Multicultural and Identity Programs: “In her short time at Babson, Natalie has had a huge impact on the community. In her years in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, her work was above and beyond in terms of supporting both students and diversity and inclusion on campus. She showed up for all members of our community when the October 7 attacks threatened to pull us apart. She innovated creative ideas and strategies when the Supreme Court dismantled affirmative action.”
Vincint (Vini) Onyemah, professor of sales and marketing and chair of the Marketing Division: “Vini Onyema has been a professor of Sales and Marketing at Babson since 2009 and has contributed in countless ways to the Babson community through his leadership and service. The wide variety of contributions Vini has made includes serving on the Dean of College Inclusive Excellence Committee, helping to design our Inclusive Teacher Training Program, and leading the Babson Ebony Network, an employee resource group.”
Creativity Contest Winners
Babson’s Associate Director for Cultural Life EriKa Monfort and Student Success Advisor Karina Ovalles announced the winners of the annual Creativity Contest earlier in the evening. The entries were inspired by King and his life. This year’s winners included a nonfiction essay, a piece of art, and a poem:
1st Prize: “Power in Hand,” a poem by Semaj Cormier ’27
2nd Prize: “1963,” art by Sarai Dorismond ’28
3rd Prize: “Living the Greater Cause: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King” a nonfiction essay by Kwaku Ofori ’26
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