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158th Founder’s Day Convocation
One of Morehouse’s most revered traditions in which the Morehouse family stops to reflect on its founding and impact on the future.
158th Founder’s Day Convocation
DATE: Thurs., Feb 13 @ 10:45 AM
Speaker: Prof. Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. ’89, Harvard University School of Law
The Annual Founder’s Day Convocation is one of Morehouse’s most revered traditions in which the Morehouse family stops to reflect on how its founding principles are carried forward with relevance for current and future global challenges. The event features a nationally-noted keynote speaker, along with speeches from the Otis Moss III Oratorical Contest winners and selections from the world-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club.
WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE CONVOCATION
Meet Our Speaker
Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. | Jesse Climenko Clinical Professor of Law
Professor Sullivan is a leading theorist in the areas of criminal law, criminal procedure, trial practice and techniques, legal ethics, and race theory. He is the faculty director of the Harvard Trial Advocacy Workshop and Faculty Director, Emeritus, of the Harvard Criminal Justice Institute. From 2009-2019, Professor Sullivan also served as Faculty Dean of Winthrop House at Harvard College, the first African American ever appointed to that position in Harvard’s history.
Professor Sullivan has merged legal theory and practice over the course of his career in unique and cutting-edge ways. Indeed, he is sought out to represent clients in cases that many in the legal community deem “impossible.” Illustratively, Professor Sullivan secured an acquittal in the double murder case of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez. He successfully represented the family of Michael Brown in reaching a settlement with the city of Ferguson on a wrongful death claim, even after the U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute the case. He won five not guilty verdicts in a $1.4 billion securities fraud case in New York. And, he secured an acquittal in one of the country’s largest Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Fraud cases – a six count federal indictment. Finally, Professor. Sullivan served as a special prosecutor to lead the prosecution of the former Governor of Missouri, who ultimately resigned from office.
Professor Sullivan has provided legal commentary for CNN, FoxNews, PBS, and all other major networks. He has been quoted in the nation’s leading newspapers and periodicals, and he has testified before the United States Senate and House of Representatives on numerous occasions.
Professor Sullivan is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College and the Harvard Law School, where he served as President of the Harvard Black Law Students Association and as General Editor of the Harvard BlackLetter Law Journal.
Presidential Award of Distinction Honoree
Alvin H. Darden III, JD ‘72
Alvin H. Darden is the CEO of A.H. Darden and Associates LLC, an Educational and Human Development Consultant Company. Preparing Youth for Success in College and Beyond… Alvin H. Darden retired in 2020 after twenty-five years of serving his alma mater, Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Georgia. He primarily served in the capacity of Associate Dean of the College for the Men of Morehouse - Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors - throughout his tenure. Alvin Darden graduated from Morehouse College in 1972. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. In 1977, he earned a Juris Doctor Degree from North Carolina Central University, School of Law.
Presidential Award of Distinction Honoree
Delores Stephens, Ph.D.
Renowned English professor, Dr. E. Delores Stephens started teaching at Morehouse College in 1964. In addition to her many years of service and her countless accolades, Dr. Stephens was awarded the Vulcan Materials Company's Teaching Excellence Award for the 2015-2016 academic year.