Prairie View A&M President Headlines 2026 Arlington MLK Gala

Published on December 16, 2025

By Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc.

Tomikia P. LeGrande, Ed.D., President & CEO of Prairie View A&M University, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2026 MLK Advancing the Dream Gala.

The announcement was made by the Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, Inc., which hosts the annual gala as part of the Arlington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Four-Day Celebration.

The festivity, which includes dinner, special tributes, entertainment, and scholarship and award presentations, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, inside the Bluebonnet Ballroom at the University Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Arlington.

Dr. LeGrande, a nationally recognized leader in higher education, became the ninth president of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) on June 1, 2023. Her career has been defined by a bold, student-centered approach to leadership, with a focus on access, equity, and innovation. At PVAMU, she has launched transformative initiatives such as PV Cares, a pioneering model that assigns every undergraduate student a dedicated team of advisors, financial counselors, and career coaches. Her strategic plan, Journey to Eminence: 2035, sets a visionary course for the university’s future, emphasizing academic relevance, student success, and global impact.

A two-time HBCU graduate and first-generation college student, Dr. LeGrande’s story reflects the transformative power of education and the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the Governor’s Champion for Change Award, Houston’s Top 30 Influential Women, and the SWAC President’s Game ChangeHER Award.

The evening will be emceed by Vince Sims, co-anchor and reporter for NBC 5 (KXAS), adding a dynamic presence to one of the largest MLK celebrations in Texas. The 2026 Arlington Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Four-Day Celebration runs from Friday, Jan. 16 through Monday, Jan. 19, under the theme: “Advancing the Dream: A Journey Toward Unity.”

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For more information about the gala and the full schedule of events, visit ArlingtonTX.gov/MLK.