College of the Ozarks hosted the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Alveda C. King, at a cultural convocation earlier this week.

King, an activist, author, and former state representative, was at the school on Monday. 

Earlier in the day, King met students, staff, and faculty from School of the Ozarks and select college students to discuss Christianity in today’s culture and Critical Race Theory. The meeting included a question-and-answer portion, where students asked King relevant questions about engaging Christianity today. King then hosted a session for faculty in The William S. Knight Center for Patriotic Education. Finally, King discussed faith and freedom in an open convocation for C of O students in the Jones Auditorium.

Dr. Sue Head, vice president for cultural affairs and dean of character education, was excited and grateful for King’s return to campus. 

“A highlight of our spring semester was Dr. Alveda King’s visit to campus and the message of peace and love she shared,” Head said. “Because of COVID concerns, we had to limit the audience to around 150 students at that time. Soon after, she called to ask if she could come back to campus in October, to which we quickly replied YES!”

King encouraged students to engage culture by learning to articulate their own position in a loving way and to use Scriptural teachings to inform their discussions.

“Dr. Alveda King exemplifies the values of faith and freedom, and we were so privileged to have her join us again,” said Andrew Bolger, director of The Keeter Center for Character Education. “Her Spirit-led witness, open stories of forgiveness and transformation, commitment to challenging contemporary issues, and love for all people truly is a witness of a public Christian life for our students and community.”

King’s visit was built on the College’s commitment to teach students about how the founding principles of our nation and the Christian faith empowered significant positive change in our nation’s history. 

“Many of the leaders of our nation – both women and men – drew on the deep wells of our founding documents and Scripture to inspire change, abolish slavery, promote women’s right to vote, dismantle Jim Crow, and support the Civil Rights Movement,” Bolger said. “Without courageous people of faith promoting the ideals of our founding, we would not be the same nation we are today.”

(College of the Ozarks Press Release)