The Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars recognizes academic leaders committed to justice and service. For Dr. Darius Benton, a longtime UHD faculty member and chair of the Department of Arts and Communication, the induction affirmed the values that have shaped him as a scholar, academic, and mentor to UHD students and peers over the last eight years.
“It was amazing to be acknowledged and seen,” he said. “It reminded me why these scholarly spaces matter and why the work we do has to stay connected to our communities.”
The values recognized by the Collegium have been present throughout Dr. Benton’s career, beginning with his formative years as a doctoral student. Under the mentorship of Anne Wimberly, an emeritus professor at the Atlanta University Center, he learned the importance of grounding scholarship in community impact.
“I had to take the mindset that this work isn’t just for theory, words on a paper, or discussion in the classroom,” Benton said. “It’s for communities to directly benefit from what we discover.”
Today, that same approach defines his teaching at UHD, where theory becomes a tool for understanding, service, and social responsibility. “I ask students to consider who they are, where they come from, and what this looks like in their world,” Benton said.
A meaningful part of the induction experience unfolded within the ceremony itself, which gathered scholar-leaders from across disciplines inside the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College. For Benton, the encouragement and shared reflection sparked renewed motivation to continue developing his book, expanding his publications, and strengthening community-centered programs at UHD.
Alongside the symbolic scroll marking his induction, the experience reinforced the value of scholarly camaraderie and collaboration. “We often work in silos,” Benton reflected. “This experience brought together scholars across disciplines who saw one another and valued one another’s work. It reminded me that we are stronger when we work together.”
For Benton, the induction was both a moment of reflection and a source of momentum. The honor affirms a path he continues to walk at UHD, one rooted in truth, service, and the belief that meaningful scholarship must always reach beyond the page.