The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Dinner is a University tradition shared with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members from southeast Missouri and beyond. It celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme for this year’s event is “Buiding CommUNITY Through Service.”

Senator Brian Williams has proudly represented the 14th Senatorial District in St. Louis County since 2018. He served as the assistant minority floor leader from 2020-2022. Senator Williams is the first Black male to serve in the Missouri Senate in two decades. He was drawn to public service after studying government and public health policy, a passion that eventually led him to the U.S. Congress.