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Kentucky State University will look back at its past and celebrate its future Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. during its Heritage Assembly. The public can view this event on Zoom using meeting code 980 1850 3350 and passcode 391226.

Benjamin T. Jealous, president of People for the American Way (PFAW), will serve as the keynote speaker. 

President M. Christopher Brown II noted that Jealous’ passion for equality and his dedication to advocating for access, equity, and opportunities align with Kentucky State University's heritage. 

Jealous was chosen in 2008 as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. According to the PFAW website, Jealous doubled the NAACP budget, grew its base of online activists by hundreds of thousands and increased its donors eightfold. In 2013, Jealous was named Marylander of the Year by the Baltimore Sun. In 2018, Jealous was the Democratic nominee for the governor of Maryland. Jealous took the reins as president of PFAW in June 2020. 

A graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, Jealous has also taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. 

Kentucky State University President M. Christopher Brown II will also present the Access Heritage Award, the Academic Heritage Award, the Athletics Heritage Award and the Agricultural Heritage Award.

Jealous will also engage with Kentucky State students following the Heritage Assembly in a private event recognizing key individuals that helped shape the University's history and celebrating its bright future-forward.