University Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Brunch

THE UNIVERSITY HOSTED FOUR DAYS OF EVENTS IN JANUARY TO HIGHLIGHT THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WCU MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., BRUNCH, ORGANIZED BY THE SOCIETY OF WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY. THE MLK BRUNCH IS ONE WAY THE SOCIETY RAISES MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.

In addition to honoring this year’s Drum Majors for Justice, the traditional brunch program was expanded to include an historical look at the event by one of the founders and the presentation of two new awards. Nelson Mandela’s grandson, humanitarian Ndaba Mandela, made a virtual keynote to conclude the multi-day celebration.

Service has been part of the University’s commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy from the beginning. Two community service projects brought the campus community together this year: a Bayard Rustin Park clean-up; and a session of cleaning toys from the St. Agnes Day Room.

New Awards

The Society established two new annual awards: the Larry Dowdy Community Service Award and the Student Service Leadership Award.

In recognition of his extensive service to the University, Lawrence A. “Larry” Dowdy ’73 was named the inaugural recipient of the Larry Dowdy Community Service Award.

Following his graduation from what was then West Chester State College in 1973, Dowdy became a residence hall director and assistant director of the Act 101 Program, then obtained his master’s degree in counselor education while working for Cheyney University in roles that included dean of men, dean for student services, and Affirmative Action officer. He returned to WCU in 1983 as Affirmative Action officer, later becoming special assistant to the president, executive assistant to the president, and government relations officer. He was named executive deputy to the president and governmental relations officer in 1999, the position he held until his retirement in 2014.

Dowdy was chair of the Campus Climate Intervention Team, the Board of Governors Scholarship Committee, and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Committee. He earned multiple accolades and awards including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award, the Mary Baltimore Award from the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education, the President’s Award for Philanthropy, and the WCU Presidential Medallion for Service. The Dowdy Multicultural Center is named in his honor.

The first annual Student Service Leadership Award was presented to Empower Communities Around You (ECAY). ECAY is a multicultural student community service organization whose mission is to uplift, impact, and empower those within the campus community through meaningful service opportunities in the tri-state area, special programs, and collaborative events.

Drum Major for Justice Nicole Barkley-Jones ’99

Nicole Barkley-Jones ’99 has more than 20 years of legal and higher education administration experience. She is the inaugural associate director of Title IX Operations in the Office of the Provost at Princeton University. She was previously assistant dean for student affairs in Princeton University’s Graduate School. Prior to Princeton, she was assistant dean and multicultural affairs officer at Widener University Delaware Law School.

A licensed attorney, Barkley-Jones began her legal career as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted cases in the Family Violence Sexual Assault Unit. Her work on behalf of women and children affected by both physical and sexual violence was critical to her growth and development as a fierce advocate.

Barkley-Jones earned her WCU undergraduate degree in communication studies. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., served as president of the WCU chapter (Rho Alpha), and remains an active member in the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter. She was also vice president for the Student Government Association, president of the Black Student Union, and a member of the Abbé Society. She served as resident assistant, orientation leader, and student director in Sykes Student Union. Barkley-Jones is a 2011 Legacy of Leadership Award recipient.

She earned her law degree from Delaware Law School, where she was president for the Black Law Students Association and the research editor of the Widener Law Review.

Drum Major for Justice Milena Oberti Lanz M’13

Milena Oberti Lanz M’13, who has served as executive director of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC) since 2016, has more than 25 years of experience in leading non-profit efforts in the Philadelphia area. Under her leadership, MCHC has consistently received the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) Seal of Excellence, an accreditation that demonstrates excellence in openness, accountability, and efficient management and governing board practices.

Lanz’s passion for supporting underserved children and families led her to spearhead a Chester County-wide effort to research best practices and evidence-based strategies in trauma-informed care by the study of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) at Home of the Sparrow while also serving as a board member for MCHC. Between 2004 and 2012, she managed MCHC’s flagship Healthy Start program and became senior director of Healthy Start and family benefits. Before joining MCHC, she worked at Congreso in Philadelphia for four years in the Women’s Wellness Division, overseeing the education component of domestic violence and parental education programs.

A 2013 graduate of the WCU master’s in public health (MPH) healthcare management program, Lanz has collaborated with WCU’s bachelor of science in public health internship program on a research project to understand parenting and the well-being of young mothers in Chester County. She and MCHC are also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of non-profit professionals and, each academic year, have hired at least three WCU student interns in each fall and spring semester.

LEFT (L to R) Journey Washington, student co-host of the MLK Brunch, with ECAY members Mya Hill, Perez Abhuilmen, and Kyanna Randolph (president).
RIGHT (L to R) MLK Brunch student co-host Josef Sanders, Drum Major for Justice Milena Oberti Lanz M’13, Drum Major for Justice Nicole Barkley-Jones ’99, and MLK Brunch student co-host Journey Washington.