Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture at Harvard
Paula A. Johnson, 14th president of Wellesley College, will deliver the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture this fall.
About the lecture
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture at Harvard annually honors individuals who have advanced the work that inspired Dr. King to act and lead and who embody the spirit of Dr. King’s vision of servant leadership.
About the 2026 Lecturer
Paula A. Johnson is a pioneer who brings decades of experience in the fields of academic medicine, public health, and higher education. Since joining Wellesley in 2016, she has moved the College to the forefront of STEM education for women and has led the creation of the school’s strategic plan, which places inclusive excellence at the heart of the Wellesley experience.
During her tenure, the College has transformed its science facilities into a state-of-the-art Science Complex. President Johnson also significantly advanced Wellesley’s focus on global engagement, creating the Wagner Centers for Wellesley in the World and the Hillary Rodham Clinton Center for Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy.
