Welcome & Opening Statement
Introduction of Speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Crown ForuM
The Reverend Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., Ph.D., Presider
Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Speaker
The Reverend Dean Carter
Founding Dean of the Chapel, Professor of Religion, Archivist & Curator
Damarion Trevez King ’27
Vice President, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program Morehouse College
theMed Message
“MOVING FROM SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE”
PORTRAIT UNVEILING OF THE REVEREND DR. KEITH A. TROY
“And Then Shall the Trumpet Sound”
The Reverend Keith A. Troy ’76, D.Min. Senior Pastor, New Salem Baptist Church Columbus, Ohio
College Hymn
Guest Speaker
Dr. Keith A. Troy is widely regarded as a master teacher and visionary pastor whose unique ability to blend timeless faith with contemporary relevance has shaped generations of believers and leaders. A son of Toledo and raised in Warren, Ohio, he excelled early in academics, athletics, and leadership before earning degrees from Morehouse College, Colgate Crozer Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary.
Since 1983, Dr. Troy has served as Pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, guiding its steady growth and championing a leadership-driven ministry model that prepares global-minded disciples. His preaching and teaching have reached audiences across the world, including South Africa, Liberia, and Mozambique.
A forward-looking, community-centered leader, Dr. Troy has helped position New Salem as one of Columbus’s most impactful anchor institutions. His vision for the New Salem Community of Caring Campus—supported by the strategic acquisition and recent sale of more than 60 acres of land—has strengthened the region’s workforce housing options while enabling new church reinvestment. Through initiatives in affordable housing, social entrepreneurship, and leadership development, he continues to build both people and place.
As founder and champion of New Salem’s Community Development Corporation (COCDF), Dr. Troy helped launch several transformative projects, including the Agler Family Housing Project, Renaissance Community Village, the Unity Resource Center, and the Unity Health & Wellness Center. His leadership
“Dear Old Morehouse”
J.O.B. Mosley ’29
The Reverend Keith A.Troy ’76, D.Min.
also supported ongoing initiatives such as the Bread of Life Food Pantry, New Salem’s childcare and after-school programs, King’s Corner Bookstore, the LIFE Motorcycle Ministry, Kenlawn Place apartments, and New Salem Manor senior housing.
Dr. Troy continues to invest in the next generation of leaders and community builders through efforts such as the Leadership Linden Academy, quarterly Community Leadership Forums, the New Salem Institute, the HBCU Council, and the New Salem Community Dinner. He also supports innovative models like the Linden Embassy, envisioned as a vibrant multi-ethnic co-working hub and community coffee house catalyzing creativity, connection, and cross-cultural engagement.
His service extends beyond the church through leadership roles with the Baptist Pastors Conference, the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention, the Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, and Unity Partnership—through which he helped facilitate more than $50 million in public and private investment across Northeast Columbus.
Dr. Troy is married to Brenda Patterson of Warren, Ohio, and together they are the proud parents of five children—Myeshia (McKenzie) Harmon, Tiffane’ (Keith) Warren, Shanece, Andre’, and Kendall—and the grandparents of seven.
Morehouse CoLLege FaCuLty, staFF, students and aLuMni
Honoring the Distinguished Legacy of
The Reverend Dean Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., Ph.D. as
Professor/Preacher/Prophet & College Pastor Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The African American Hall of Fame
The Reverend Professor Winford Kennadean Rice Jr. ’14, D.Min., Presider
Welcome & Opening Statemente
Administrative Remarks
Honoring Dean Carter as PROFESSOR
Honoring Dean Carter as PREACHER
Honoring Dean Carter as PROPHET
Honoring Dean Carter as COLLEGE PASTOR
The Reverend Professor Rice Adjunct Professor of Religion, Morehouse College Senior Pastor, Beulah Baptist Church Atlanta, GA
Kendrick Brown, Ph.D. Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Morehouse College
Harold V. Bennett, Ph.D.
Martin Luther King Jr. Endowed Chair of Philosophy and Religion Department Morehouse College
Clarissa Myrick-Harris White, Ph.D. Professor of Africana Studies Morehouse College
Alonzo Brinson ’27
41st President, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program Morehouse College
Naivion Makai Stephens ’28 2025-2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar Historian, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program Morehouse College
Leah Creque, Ph.D. Professor of English Morehouse College
Alvin H. Darden III ’72, J.D. Associate Dean of the College (Ret.) Morehouse College
Shelia W. Paris, B.A. College Receptionist, Office of Human Resources Morehouse College
Gabriel Denard Cloud ’21
M.Div. Student, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
39th President, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Assistants Program Morehouse College
The Morehouse Family Honoring Dean Carter OPEN MIC
Closing Remarks from the Honoree
The Reverend Dean Carter
Founding Dean of the Chapel, Professor of Religion, Curator and College Archivist Morehouse College
Mini Reception Cake & Punch
Welcome & Introduction of Moderator
Statement of Purpose & Introductions
Panelists
Respondent
the dean’s ForuM
Honoring the Intellectual Legacy of The Reverend Dean Lawarence Edward Carter Sr., Ph.D.
theme
“Why America May Go to Hell”: The Black Prophetic Tradition as America’s Last Hope
Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
African American Hall of Fame
Naivion Makai Stephens ’28
Historian, Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel Assistants Program 2025-2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar Morehouse College
Illya Eliphis Davis ’89, Ph.D./ABD Director of Freshman & Senior’s Academic Success Adjunct Professor of Philosophy & Religion, Morehouse College
Spencer Alexandria Nabors C’2020, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Fellow Georgetown University
George Anthony Pratt ’23
Ph.D. Student, Committee on the Study of Religion Harvard University
Calvin Roosevelt Bell ’24
Ph.D. Student, Department of Philosophy Northwestern University
Linden Martin Young ’26
Samuel W. Williams Fellow, Officer of Freshman & Senior’s Academic Success Morehouse College
Melanie C. Jones Quarles, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Ethics, Theology, and Culture Inaugural Director of the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership Union Presbyterian Seminary
Moderated Panel Dialogue Professor Davis
