State College resident Pamela J. Robb, member of the Patton Township Board of Supervisors, received the 2025 Forum on Black Affairs Humanitarian Award, presented by Earl Merritt, director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity in the College of the Liberal Arts. Through this award, FOBA annually honors an individual who has provided outstanding service to African American citizens of Pennsylvania, particularly in communities around Penn State’s campuses.
The 2025 Fannie Lou Hamer and W.E.B. DuBois Service Scholarships also were announced during the evening. These annual awards honor the memory of civil rights leaders Hamer and DuBois, and are awarded to full-time, degree-seeking Penn State students who are excellent scholars and actively engaged in service to the African American community. The 2025 recipients are Keia Jones and Breneil Malcolm.
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Keia Jones is a fourth-year doctoral candidate pursuing a dual degree in rural sociology and international agriculture and development. Jones is dedicated to transdisciplinary research focusing on sustainable entrepreneurship and water quality and is developing a startup company that addresses these issues in fashion. Jones holds current executive board positions as treasurer of the Black Graduate Student Association and vice president of the International Agriculture and Development Graduate Student Association.
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Breneil Malcolm is a gender-fluid, critical intersectional scholar, pursuing their doctorate in learning sciences with gender and sexuality studies. Malcolm researches identity, human sexuality, intersectionality, and agency among minorities in higher education, with a focus on transgender and gender nonconforming people and how they navigate their spaces of learning. Malcolm demonstrates their commitment to the work of equity and social justice through service on the College of Education Equity Team, the Fox Graduate School Alumni Society Board, and the Coalition to Address Relationship and Sexual Violence Research Committee.
Gary Abdullah, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion in the Bellasario College of Communications, offered a blessing of the food. Seria Chatters, interim vice provost for Educational Equity; Levon T. Esters, vice provost and dean of the Fox Graduate School; and Evan Williams, director of the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, also spoke during the evening about the continuing, enduring importance of King's legacy.
The audience enjoyed several outstanding musical performances throughout the evening. R&B singer Naiby Perez, accompanied by musician Ralph Real, led the audience in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem, as well as a featured performance. Graduate student and singer Anisa Adkins and euphonium/tuba lecturer Jaden Nathaniel Adkins performed "Ain't Got Time to Die" by Hall Johnson, and "Precious Lord Take My Hand" by Thomas Dorsey; and graduate student Evan Buckner played several pieces on violin, including Erroll Garner’s “Misty” and the gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
In addition, American Sign Language interpreters Cassidy Donaldson, Cheyanne Marsh and Tess Masood enthusiastically accompanied the speakers and performers throughout the evening.
The event ended with a special tribute from Darrin Thornton, professor of music and associate dean for undergraduate education, honoring the late Professor Anthony Leach, conductor of Essence of Joy and beloved Penn State and State College community member, who died on Jan. 8.
Preston, in closing, said, "Dr. King once said that faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase. Tonight, we celebrate the countless steps taken by those before us, steps of courage, conviction and sacrifice, but more importantly, we recognize that the staircase continues to rise, and it is up to us to keep climbing. Change is not a distant hope or a task for someone else. It is a responsibility we all carry in our hearts and a mission we live out with our hands, with our own hands. Each of us has the power to create change, through the kindness we extend, the conversations we spark, and the actions we take to address injustice wherever we find it.
"As we reflect on the incredible legacy of Dr King, let us look inward. Take a moment to ask yourself, 'What can I do to make change continue with me?'" Preston added. "Whether it's mentoring a young person, challenging inequality in your workplace, advocating for policies that promote equity, or simply listening more to those whose voices that have been silent, every action matters. The truth is, change does not come from waiting — it comes from working. It comes from showing up and it comes from believing, as Dr. King did, that every and even the smallest acts of courage can ripple outward to transform the world."
Penn State campuses across the commonwealth are holding events and activities in recognition of MLK Commemoration Week.
The Forum on Black Affairs seeks to form meaningful partnerships with individuals and other organizations, and encourages participation in a shared vision of an improved diverse and inclusive University community. FOBA’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for all citizens and is dedicated to the principle of equality for all people, manifested in a commitment to achieve equal opportunity for Black people at Penn State. Visit the Forum on Black Affairs website to learn more.