Purdue announces keynote speaker for Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative lecture

Andrew Young, former member of Congress, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, mayor of Atlanta and colleague of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will be the keynote speaker for Purdue University’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative lecture at 7 p.m. Jan. 21.

Young has lived his life in response to the call of service as a young man. His calling spans his service as an ordained minister to work in civil and human rights and public service. He established the Andrew Young Foundation to develop and nurture new generations of innovative leaders to tackle this era’s global challenges. Young wrote “A Way Out of No Way: The Spiritual Memoirs of Andrew Young,” “An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transformation of America” and “Walk in My Shoes: Conversations between a Civil Rights Legend and his Godson on the Journey Ahead.” He is also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The event, which will be virtual, will be moderated by Julian Phillips, who is a Purdue alumnus, an award-winning journalist, author, political analyst and advisor, and chef. He is a three-time Emmy Award winner, recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award and more. Phillips has also served on Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts and Discovery Park advisory boards.

This event is taking place as part of a weeklong celebration of events recognizing King. Others will be a day of service food drive benefiting the ACE Campus Food Pantry and an art show in downtown Lafayette. Information on how to register for this livestreamed event and other activities will be released at a later date.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Writer, media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates
Source: John Gates, jfgates@purdue.edu
Kate Walker, katewalker@purdue.edu