Martin Luther King Jr. Community Event (Hammond Campus)
January 15, 2026 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Join us for PNW’s annual region-wide MLK Community Event!
PNW invites the Northwest Indiana community to the Hammond Campus to celebrate diversity and inclusion through the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Schedule
- 12:30 p.m.: Check-In
- 1 p.m.: Community Conversations
- 1:20 p.m.: Welcome by Chancellor Kenneth Holford
- 1:35 p.m.: Keynote Speaker: Professor Shontrai Irving
- 2 p.m.: Closing
See Westville MLK Community Event
Location
Alumni Hall
Student Union Library Building (SULB)
Meet Our Speaker
Shontrai Irving
Professor of Business Law
Shontrai D. Irving is a Clinical Professor of Business Law at Purdue University Northwest, a proud PNW MBA graduate, and a distinguished educator, attorney and community leader whose work exemplifies the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Deeply rooted in the Purdue Northwest community, Professor Irving is known for his commitment to student success, ethical leadership and service-driven education.
He has been recognized with several honors from Purdue University, including the Special Boilermaker Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamer Award, celebrating his dedication to equity, inclusion, and transformational service. A three-time graduate of Indiana University as well, Professor Irving will serve as the 156th Chair of the Indiana University Alumni Association, representing more than 800,000 alumni across the globe.
Outside the classroom, he leads the “Leaders in Law, Leaders in Literacy” initiative, connecting lawyers, college students, and young people to promote literacy, empowerment and civic engagement. His lifelong mission of uplifting others, especially youth, reflects Dr. King’s enduring call to serve, to lead with integrity, and to advance justice for all.
Professor Irving’s journey, marked by resilience, purpose and service, stands as a powerful testament to the transformative impact one individual can have on a community.
To request a disability-related accommodation, please contact the Office for Civil Rights at civilrights@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2163 five days prior to the event.
In accordance with Purdue policies, all persons have equal access to Purdue University’s educational programs, services, and activities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran. See Purdue’s Nondiscrimination Policy Statement. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies, please contact the Office for Civil Rights at civilrights@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2337.