Recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dear Members of the NJCU Community, 

Today, as we do each year on the third Monday of January, we pause to honor the memory of and reflect upon the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose legacy of courage, commitment to social justice, and racial equality continues to inspire us, nearly 55 years since his assassination in 1968.

New Jersey City University, like all institutions of higher education, will be closed on January 16, in recognition of the life of the civil rights icon.

While MLK Day is a federal holiday, it is also designated by Congress as a National Day of Service — a day where Americans from many different backgrounds are spurred to be a catalyst to provide meaningful change in their communities. The university continues to be encouraged by so many members of the NJCU family participating in service activities — today and throughout the year. For that, we thank you.

However you choose to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, we hope you will join us in-person on campus this Thursday, January 19, 2023 for the 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Gothic Lounge (Hepburn Room 202). Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Aisha Scott — an Assistant Professor of Black Studies and Health Science at Providence College, where she is an advocate for social justice and closing gaps in healthcare for underrepresented communities. 

Each year as we consider the impact of our actions as we pursue a more equitable and inclusive community, we are inspired by the words of Dr. King: “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" Let us think about those words — today on this most meaningful holiday, and every day this year.