LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – February 13, 2026 – In celebration of Black History Month’s centennial anniversary, Lincoln University is pleased to announce Dr. Yusef Salaam, New York City Council Member, 9th District, Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, Member, The Exonerated Five, New York Times bestselling author and public speaker as our 2026 Black History Month Convocation speaker.
Being held on Thursday, February 19, our Black History Month convocation theme, Leadership and
Restorative Justice in Black History, reflects Dr. Salaam’s story in the purest form. In 1989, at just fifteen years young, he was tried and convicted in the “Central Park jogger” case along with four other Black and Latino young men. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to 13 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, until their sentences were overturned in 2002.
Since then, they have received a multi-million dollar settlement from the city of New York for its injustice and have been profiled in award-winning films, including The Central Park Five documentary from Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon and most recently the Emmy award-winning Netflix limited series When They See Us, written and directed by Ava DuVernay.
“Lincoln University is honored to welcome Yusef Salaam to campus and to bestow upon him an honorary degree,” says Dr. Mahpiua Deas, Provost & Dean of Faculty at Lincoln University. “His remarkable journey embodies our mission to Learn, Liberate, and Lead, demonstrating how adversity can be transformed into hard‑earned wisdom, purpose, and powerful advocacy. His story inspires our community to pursue justice, resilience, and truth with courage.”
Over the past two decades, Dr. Salaam has become a family man, father, poet, activist and inspirational speaker. He continues to utilize his platform to share his story with others and educate the public about the impact of mass incarceration and police brutality rooted in our justice system. He regularly advocates for criminal justice reform, prison reform, and the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment.
Dr. Salaam was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (2014) and is the recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards: one from President Barack Obama (2016) and one from President Joseph Biden (2024). More recently, he shared his story and stance on current issues on CNN, MSNBC, REVOLT TV, NPR Atlanta, FOX and more. He authored his memoir Better, Not Bitter and is the co-author of Punching the Air. In 2024 he answered the call to govern, joining the New York City Council to represent District 9 in Central Harlem. The 2026 Black History Convocation will be held on Thursday, February 19 at 12:30p at the International Cultural Center on Lincoln University’s main campus.
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About Lincoln University
Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU),
educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 1,650 men and women in more than 34 undergraduate and graduate programs. To learn more about Lincoln University, visit www.lincoln.edu.
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