Faculty Awarded 2025 FSU MLK Distinguished Service Award

Keithen Mathis, MSW associate dean for Culture and Community Engagement and teaching professor at the College of Social Work, was awarded the 2025 FSU Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Distinguished Service Award. Awards were presented on Tuesday, January 14th, at the MLK Awards and Golden Torch Lecture Series, presenting Ziwe Fumudoh, a Nigerian American author and comedian, during FSU’s 37th annual MLK Week.

The MLK Distinguished Service Award was established at FSU in 1986 to honor a faculty member, administrator or staff member whose outstanding service is in keeping with MLK's principles and ideas. 

“My first response was ‘Wow!’ but I felt humbled once I got over the shock. Personally, it’s an incredible honor to be recognized with an award named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a true champion of equality, justice, and peace,” said Professor Mathis. “Receiving this award has confirmed that my service at the College of Social Work and at FSU resonates with his vision of service and inspires me to continue pushing forward.”

Professor Mathis has served as the College of Social Work’s Associate Dean for Culture and Community Engagement since 2022 and is deeply committed to engaging the university and surrounding communities. His efforts have included creating and implementing programming that connects people around various cultural and service opportunities. He has also served on several community nonprofit boards and university initiatives that build community and collaboration, including the MLK Week planning committee.

“Dr. King believed that service was essential for creating positive change and that anyone can serve. Receiving this award has confirmed that my service at the College of Social Work has created positive change in the college,” Professor Mathis said. “I feel I would not be where I am today if it were not for Dr. King’s activism and advocacy. I do my best to celebrate his life and legacy every day, not just one day a year.”

He also plans to further his service efforts both on and off campus, continuing to emulate the legacy of Dr. King that aligns so well with the principles of the social work profession. “By prioritizing the needs and perspectives of these we serve, social workers can embody Dr. King’s legacy and beliefs, treating everyone with respect and dignity,” he affirmed.

Click here to view more photos of the Januar 14th event.