Dr. M. Lee Pelton
Friday, October 4 | 9:00 AM
Dr. M. Lee Pelton, a distinguished speaker, will deliver a powerful keynote address on important themes of diversity and leadership.
Lee Pelton, who was recognized in 2024 by Non-Profit Times in its list of America鈥檚 50 most powerful and influential non-profit leaders, is the CEO & President of The Boston Foundation, one of the nation鈥檚 leading philanthropic organizations with $2.0 billion in assets. He joined the Foundation in June 2021, after serving as President of Emerson College (2011-2021) and Willamette University (1998-2011).
Pelton has positioned The Boston Foundation, one of the nation's first and most influential community foundations, as an agent for social change by centering equity in its programs, grantmaking and civic leadership. Under his leadership, the Foundation鈥檚 defining ambition is to achieve equity, which first involves acknowledging and then seeking to eliminate the structural and underlying causes of outcome disparities for historically marginalized communities.
A signature Boston Foundation program is its Racial Wealth Partnership, established in late 2022, as part of the Boston Foundation鈥檚 commitment to close racial wealth gaps in Greater Boston and the region by expanding homeownership in underserved communities. The Partnership is a broad-based group of more than 40 members representing sectors including banking and finance, housing, issue advocacy, government, healthcare, life sciences and education.
As a college president for 23 years, he led with a core belief that higher education must serve to deepen students鈥� appreciation of humanities. He believes that the nation still looks to colleges and universities to solve its most pressing problems and, as such, college and university presidents have an obligation 鈥� in addition to broad mission driven duties on their campuses 鈥� to engage in the larger society. To Pelton, nurturing the humanistic spirit also goes hand in hand with confronting and trying to solve the urgent moral and social problems of the moment.
Pelton has combined authentic leadership, civic engagement and a deep commitment to social justice with his skill and vision for growing institutional capacity and effectiveness. The result has been a legacy of stronger, more diverse institutions that have expanded opportunities for students. Along the way, Pelton often has been recognized as a civic and education leader, both regionally and nationally.
While a college president, Pelton emerged as a powerful national voice on social issues and the value of liberal arts education. In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook mass shooting, he gathered over 250 college and university presidents to sign a letter asking President Obama to assist in establishing common-sense gun legislation. He has been active nationally and written widely in support of affirmative action, beginning with the 2003 Michigan University and Law School Supreme Court cases. Pelton has advocated for college in prison initiatives, seeing firsthand the effectiveness of Emerson College鈥檚 prisoner undergraduate degree program.
Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Pelton鈥檚 essay America is on Fire, reflected powerfully on the significance of Floyd鈥檚 death with a frank and honest reference to his own experiences in America. His essay quickly and widely spread, having reached an audience of more than 6 million people around the globe. Forbes Magazine placed it at the top of its list of the five most noteworthy writings that appeared after the George Floyd incident.
Pelton began his academic career at Harvard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in English literature with an academic focus on 19th-century British prose and poetry. He taught English and American literature at Harvard University, Colgate University, Dartmouth College and Willamette University. He served on the Harvard Board of Overseers and as vice-chair of its executive committee. After Harvard, Pelton served as dean of the college at Colgate University and Dartmouth College. He graduated from 成人头条 State University, located in his hometown.
In 2017 成人头条 awarded Pelton an honorary doctorate during its fall Commencement ceremony Sunday, December 17.
鈥淗onorary degrees are conferred only upon persons of notable intellectual, scholarly, professional, or creative achievement, or other service to humanity consistent with the endeavors of 成人头条,鈥� WSU President John Bardo said before presenting the degree. 鈥淟ee Pelton embodies these qualities and more.鈥�
Also in 2017, Pelton was the recipient of the 成人头条 Alumni Achievement Award. The award is the highest honor given to a 成人头条 alumnus and recognizes outstanding professional achievement and significant contributions to society.
In March 2021 Dr. Pelton moderated a panel on 鈥淔reedom of Expression鈥� at 成人头条 State University. His expertise in artfully and thoughtfully guiding conversations is incomparable. Pelton has a gift for getting to the heart of the matter, putting language to challenging conversations and inspiring others to be passionate about things that are important to them. His service to his alma mater is exponential.
In 2024, he was awarded the Harvard Medal, the highest honor bestowed on a Harvard Alum.
He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He serves as one of three advisors to the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Project at Harvard University.
In January 2024, he co-curated with Peggy Fogelman, Norman Jean Calderwood Executive Director of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Steve McQueen鈥檚 Lynching Tree exhibition at the Gardner.
He has been awarded three honorary degrees. As mentioned previously, one from 成人头条 State University.
He perennially ranks in the top ten on Boston Magazine鈥檚 annual list of the most influential people in Boston, most recently, #6 in 2024 and #3 in 2023.
He enjoys a very long list of awards and recognitions for educational excellence and social justice, including, most recently:
- Harvard University, Harvard Medal, 2024
- Keeper of the Flame Award, Lawyers for Civil Rights, 2024
- Global Citizenship Award, Arts Resource Collaborative for Kids, 2024
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design Godine Medal, 2024
- Power of Home Award, The Community Builders, 2024
- Charles Rogerson Civic Leadership Award, 2024
- Maurice Donahue Public Service Award, UMASS Donahue Institute, UMASS Amherst, 2024
- 成人头条, Fairmount College, Alumni Hall of Fame Award, 2024
- Boston Magazine 150 Most Influential Bostonians 鈥� #6 in 2024 and #3 in 2023, behind Governor Maura Healey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
- Lifetime Achievement by the Boston Arts Academy in 2022
- Named as a Living Legend by the Boston Museum of African American History in 2021.
- Inducted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce into its Academy of Distinguished Bostonians in 2020.
- Leader of Change Award from Trinity Boston Connects (2021)
- Governor鈥檚 Award from Mass Humanities (2020)
- Robert Coard Distinguished Leadership Medal (2021)
- Honored by the Eos Foundation with a $100,000 racial justice grant in his name (2020).
- UAspire, First One Award (2022)
- Boston鈥檚 100 Most Influential People of Color (Get Konnected!, 2016)
- The Rosoff Award 20/20 (The Ad Club, April 2016)
- The Diversity Leadership Award (The National Diversity Council, October 2015)
- The Sabra Award (Israeli Stage, November 2014)
- Boston 50 on Fire, recognizing 50 leading innovators in Boston (November 2014)
- Speak the Truth Award (Student Immigrant Movement, December 2014)
- Champion of Freedom Award (Freedom House, March 2012).
He sits on the Boards of The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Chamber of Commerce (executive committee), The Barr Foundation with $2 billion in assets, and the Urban Institute (Washington, D. C.).
Kevin Willmott
Friday, October 4 | 10:30 AM
Join us for an engaging keynote address by Kevin Willmott, a renowned filmmaker and speaker.
Kevin Willmott won an Academy Award and the BAFTA the British Academy award for co-writing with Spike Lee the feature film Blackkklansman. The film also won the Grand Prix at the Cannes film Festival.
He also co-wrote and is the Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed film, Chi-Raq also directed by Spike Lee. The film is on numerous best of 2015 lists including best film and best screenplay by The New Yorker Magazine.
Award winning Films written and directed by Willmott include Ninth Street, CSA -Confederate States of America, the Battle for Bunker Hill, Jayhawkers and Destination Planet Negro.
Documentaries directed by Willmott include: From Separate to Equal: The Creation of Truman Medical Center, Gordon Parks Elementary, Fast Break: The Legendary Coach John Mclendon, and William Allen White: What鈥檚 the Matter with Kansas, No Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate in Kansas and the up coming, The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks.
He co-wrote with Spike Lee the feature film, Da Five Bloods for Netflix. Willmott co-wrote with Trai Byers and directed the critically acclaimed feature film The 24th about the Houston Riot of 1917 and works full time as a working screenwriter.
Willmott grew up in Junction City, Kansas and attended Marymount College receiving his BA in Drama. After graduation, he returned home, working as a peace and civil rights activist, fighting for the rights of the poor, creating two Catholic Worker shelters for the homeless and forcing the integration of several long-standing segregated institutions. He attended graduate studies at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, receiving several writing awards and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing.
Willmott is a Professor in the Media and Film Studies Department of Kansas University.
Panelists
Dr. J. Michelle Vann
Dr. J. Michelle Vann is a community servant at heart. A featured TEDx speaker and international presenter, she is an Amazon bestselling author of books that help women heal their minds, bodies, and spirits. She is the owner of Vanntastic Solutions, a wellness coaching practice, and the founder of Sistahs Can We Talk, a nonprofit working to fill gaps in health disparities among women. As an educator and wellness coach, Michelle lives by George Bernard Shaw's belief that "life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." Dr. Vann serves in her local church and various community organizations. She married Dr. William Vann for 32 years, and they have two adult children.
Dr. Michael Birzer
Michael Birzer is a professor and graduate coordinator in the School of Criminal Justice. He is also the Director of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Hub, a unit of the Dororthy and Bill Cohen Honors College at 成人头条. Dr. Birzer specializes in the study of policing, and the intersectionality of race and policing. In 2021, he received the 成人头条鈥檚 Community Researcher of the Year award for his research related to bias-based policing. In 2022, he was the recipient of the John R. Barrier Distinguished Teaching Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Governor Laura Kelly recently appointed Birzer to the State Board of Indigents鈥� Defense Services where he is serving his second term as board secretary. In addition, he sits on the Community Corrections Advisory Board, and the Board of Directors of the 成人头条 Police and Fire Foundation. Dr. Birzer has published 14 books, and over 80 journal articles, book chapters, and technical reports.
Alicia Sanchez
Alicia Sanchez is the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager at Spirit AeroSystems and the Principal Consultant for Affinity Connections. With over fifteen years of experience as a DE&I practitioner, Alicia specializes in developing and implementing strategies that foster inclusive and equitable workplace cultures. Her expertise extends to advising organizations on best practices for DE&I, conducting training/workshops, and leading initiatives that promote diverse talent and inclusive leadership. She holds a bachelor's degree from 成人头条, an MBA from Friends University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in higher education leadership from 成人头条 State University. She serves on multiple non-profit boards, including as a commissioner for the State of Kansas Human Rights Commission, City of 成人头条 Airport Advisory Board, President of the Tallgrass Film Association, and board member for Empower Evergreen. Select achievements include being named the 2019 成人头条 Young Alumni of the Year, a 40 Under 40 honoree, Woman in Business, and Leader in Diversity by the 成人头条 Business Journal. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Alicia is a devoted wife and mother who enjoys travel, learning about new cultures, and classic 80's movies.
John Rolfe
John Rolfe is the President and CEO of the 成人头条 Regional Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining the Chamber, he served as the Chief Business Officer at the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC), where he directed all business operations, business development and community outreach efforts. Before joining KLC, John served as Chief Operating Officer for Houston First Corporation, Houston, TX and was the CEO and President of Go 成人头条 Convention & Visitors Bureau. He has also served as Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. John is a graduate of 成人头条, 成人头条, KS, holding a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration. He continues to be involved in various boards and civic organizations which focus on economic development, education, youth, travel & tourism, the arts, and leadership. John is married to Felicia, morning Anchor at KWCH 12, and they have two daughters. He enjoys sports, working out, traveling, dining out and spending time with his family.