Illuminating MLK’s Legacy and the Women Who Shaped It
Learn more about the award winners from the Babson College’s 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Day held February 12, 2025.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Awards
The Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award honors members of the Babson community (students, faculty, staff, groups, or organizations) who reflect Dr. King’s principles and ideals in philosophy and action.
A recipient is awarded in each of the following five categories: undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Criteria
The recipient of this award will have gone above and beyond the requirements of job responsibilities, organizational mission, or charter and will have raised the bar for those who follow in their footsteps. The recipient’s actions and behaviors in working either on or off campus for the betterment of the community should be in a manner consistent with the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Written nominations must explicitly address how the nominee(s) have visibly demonstrated:
- Courage and conviction in valuing differences
- Commitment to “seeing beyond borders” by building inclusions
- Acceptance of challenge and risk in achieving goals for the greater good
- Compassion for humanity
2025 Recipients
- Sevyn Williams ’25 (Undergraduate Student)
- Shenaya Martin Johnson MBA’25 (Graduate Student)
- Kadia Tubman ’13 (Alumni)
- Natalie Joseph (Staff)
- Vincent (Vini) Onyemah (Faculty)
2024
Haja Ba '24 (Undergraduate Student)
Rhesa Teesdale '23 MSEL '24 (Graduate Student
Elissa Kalver '09 (Alumni)
Dr. Michele Brown Kerrigan (Faculty)
Lorien Romito (Staff)
2023
Zykera Steward '23
Santucee Bell MBA '23
Dana Francois MBA '19
Dr. Wiljeana Glover, Stephen C. and Carmella R. Kletjian Foundation Distinguished Professor of Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship
Dr. Sadie Burton-Goss, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
2022
Kai Lightner ’22
Judithe Registre MBA’22
David Heath ’05 and Andrew Heath MBA’12
Dr. Anjali Bal, Associate Professor Marketing
Dr. Shakenna Williams ’94, Executive Director, CWEL
2021
Jaylen Bell ’21
Shoaib Rahaman ’21
Angela Randolph, Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship
Tracey Reza, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Administration
Amanda Strong ’87, Babson College Trustee
2020
Zahira Perez ’20
Sienzhi Kouemo ’20
Larinda Cole, Undergraduate Center for Career Development
Donna Stoddard, TOIM Division
Aaron Walton ’83
2019
Duruo Murray ’21
Britney Aguayo ’21
2018
Cristina Corrie ’19
Kevin Bruyneel, History & Society
2017
Flora Ekpe-Idang MBA’17
Mark Gagliardi MBA’17
Rachel Greenberger MBA’11: Food Sol
2016
Shatiek Gatlin ’16
Khalif Heatley ’17
Nadia Mendes ’18
Tina Opie, Management
2015
Taelyr Roberts ’15
Kerry E. Rourke, Arts & Humanities
2014
Nitiya Walker ’14
Marjorie Feld, History & Society
2013
Amir Reza, Vice Provost, International & Multicultural Education
Origins of Necessary Equality (ONE) Tower
2012
Rayshawn Whitford ’12
Elizabeth Goldberg, Associate Professor, Arts & Humanities
2011
Miles Masci M’11
Eliana Crosina, Director, Alumni and Friends Network and Service Programs
2010
Winfred Fields ’12
Burl Hash, Director, Sorenson Center for the Arts
2009
Monica Johnson M’09
Mary Pinard, Associate Professor of English, Arts & Humanities
2008
Sarah English ’08, President, Black Student Union
Chris Kandus, Assistant Dean, Campus Life
2007
Asad Rahim ’07
Toni Blackwell, Associate Dean and Director, Student Diversity Programming
2006
Kit Yan ’06
Brent Damrow, Associate Dean & Director, Academic Services
2005
Soriah Anvary ’05
Melissa Shaak, former Director, Student Financial Services and Associate Dean, Undergraduate School
2004
Richard Bliss, Associate Professor of Finance