FERRUM, VA, January 16, 2026 – On Monday, January 19, 2026, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Vaughn Chapel, the Ferrum College community will gather to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This free event is open to the public and will feature Professor Emeritus Melvin Macklin as the speaker.
As a National Day of Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance invites reflection on Dr. King’s enduring legacy of justice, equality, and nonviolent service, and on a renewed commitment to his vision of the Beloved Community. Dr. Macklin’s address, titled “The Making of a Dream,” will offer insight grounded in a lifetime of service, scholarship, and leadership.
“Dr. King challenged us not only to dream of a better world, but to actively work toward it through service, courage, and compassion,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin. “We are honored to have Dr. Melvin Macklin, whose life and career reflect those ideals, share his insights with our community. His keynote address offers a powerful opportunity to learn from a scholar, veteran, and educator who has dedicated his life to advancing understanding, justice, and humanity.”
Dr. Macklin served in the United States Army as a Sergeant and Radio Communications Specialist from 1965 to 1969, including service in Germany and Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He later earned his Ph.D. in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2008, becoming the first recipient of the university’s Certificate in Holocaust Studies. He has taught in Ferrum College’s English Department since 2008 and was named professor emeritus in 2021; he continues to teach part-time.
His teaching and scholarship focus on African American literature, slave narratives, and Holocaust studies, and he has authored several works on African American history and culture. Throughout more than fifty years in education, Dr. Macklin has remained dedicated to continual self-improvement and to affirming, in the spirit of Dr. King, the dream and vision of a more just world.
Please plan to join us for this meaningful program and time of reflection.
