Vanessa Alexander (’16), director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, received the 2025 Distinguished Community Service Award for the Kirksville area from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission. Alexander studied Sociology and Anthropology during her time at Truman, also serving as a Multicultural Affairs student intern and a participant in the Minority Ambassadors Program.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission holds a statewide celebration annually to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy through community service projects. Alexander worked with local partners to coordinate several events for the Kirksville, ATSU and Truman community in celebration of Dr. King: a showing of the movie Till, a day of community service, a speaker honoring King’s legacy, and an art and essay contest for K-12 students. The festivities concluded with a community dinner that included discussion, a keynote interactive speech from Alexander, a musical performance of A Change Is Gonna Come by two Truman students, and an awards presentation for the winners of the art and essay contests.