Event Registration opens on Wednesday, November 5 at 10 a.m. and is required. Deadline is January 16, 2026, or until sold out.

COST: Seats are $25 for students and $35 for non-students. Student meal plan holders may use a meal swipe to make a reservation in exchange for one meal. Each table seats 8 guests.

Former White House Press Secretary and Special Advisor to President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and published author of “Moving Forward” & “Independent” Karine Jean-Pierre will be the featured speaker for the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Dinner on:

• Friday, January 30, 2026
• 5-6 p.m. (doors open, cash bar available)
• 6-8:30 p.m. (keynote and dinner)
• Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center

Jean-Pierre is the first Black person and first openly queer person to serve as the White House Press Secretary and is the longest serving female in this role. She is a long-time advisor to President Biden, having served in senior communications and political roles in the Biden administration, the Biden campaign, and in the Obama administration. Prior to her role on the campaign, she served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst.

Jean-Pierre served as Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

She served as Southeast Regional Political Director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign, Deputy Campaign Manager for Martin O’Malley for President, Campaign Manager for the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Initiative, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members on the New York City Council. Previously, Jean-Pierre worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics, pushing major companies to change their business practices, and is the author of her memoir titled Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America and her newly published book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University.

This event is presented by Illinois State University’s Office of the President, University Housing Services, Event Management, Dining and Hospitality, Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Association of Residence Halls, the Association of Black Employees, and the Black Student Union.