Marla Robertson to receive MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award
January 13, 2026
Whether she’s working with local organizations or with her students and colleagues at the College of Charleston, Marla Robertson wants to see others succeed both personally and professionally.
As the assistant director of the College of Charleston Master of Public Administration program, Robertson is known for fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for students and colleagues – creating a safe space for difficult conversations and collaborative problem-solving.
“Marla stands as a beacon of hope, inspiration and compassion amid the challenges of our times,” Autum Blanchard ’20 (M.P.A. ’25) says in her nomination of Robertson for the Black History Intercollegiate Consortium’s 2026 MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award.
Every year the BHIC bestows the award on someone from each of its five member institutions – the College of Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina, The Citadel, Trident Technical College and Charleston Southern University – who embodies the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr.
“Her unwavering commitment to advocacy, equity and community embodies the very spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” says Blanchard, who served as Robertson’s graduate assistant for two years and now works in the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities. “From our very first interaction, Marla emphasized the importance of showing up as one’s authentic self – in the classroom, the workplace and everyday life.
“She prioritizes authentic engagement by incorporating community voices through focus groups, interviews and other participatory methods whenever possible,” Blanchard’s nomination continues. “Marla strives to put her GAs’ ‘boots on the ground,’ allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the communities their work serves – an approach that reinforces the core tenets of public service and responsible administration.”
Having taken Robertson’s capstone course, Blanchard also knows the impact she has in the classroom.
“She regularly encourages her students to engage in advocacy work that aligns with their values and to apply lessons from the classroom to real-world efforts that promote equity and justice,” says Blanchard, who will present Robertson with the award at the BHIC’s 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
“Receiving the 2026 MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award is deeply meaningful to me, as it affirms my commitment to service, equity and community engagement,” Robertson says. “Dr. King’s legacy reminds us that meaningful change is rooted in compassion and collective responsibility, values that guide both my professional and personal work. I am honored to be recognized alongside a tradition that calls us to serve with purpose and humility.”
Past award recipients from the College of Charleston include Shannon Eaves (2025), associate professor of history; Lauren Herterich (2024), Kids On Point executive director; Joy Vandervort-Cobb (2023), associate professor emerita of theatre and dance; and Rochelle Johnson (2022), director of the Life Design Coaching Programs, among others.
The Legacy Continues
The program location rotates annually among the consortium’s institutions. As this year’s host, the College of Charleston got to select this year’s BHIC scholarship recipient: Trinity Pristley, a sophomore majoring in middle grades education and African American studies, will be presented with the scholarship at the celebration.
“Receiving this scholarship means a great deal to me because it recognizes the work I have put into my academics and my dedication to community service,” says Pristley, who helped establish beenYa: The African American Studies Society. “beenYa has created a space for more students to connect and engage meaningfully with the African American studies community. This work reflects Dr. King’s emphasis on collective action, education and community engagement. I am proud to receive this scholarship honoring Dr. King’s legacy, as it allows me to continue focusing on my education and community service.”
The celebration will include a performance by CofC’s student a cappella group The Charleston Vibes, a reflection by Bonner Leader Mia Hilton, an opening invocation by CofC Hillel vice president Sophie Messing and a closing invocation by Black Student Union president Jalen Evans. Joshua Smith, president of the Tau Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is presiding the program, and representatives from Call Me MISTER and The Sisters of Septima will serve as ushers.
BHIC’s 36th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in the College of Charleston Simons Center for the Arts Recital Hall (54 St. Philip St.). A reception will follow in the Simons Center lobby. The program is free and open to the public.
About BHIC
The BHIC was co-founded in the late 1980s by the affirmative action officers from the College and MUSC to enhance racial harmony between the Charleston region’s five institutions of higher education and the communities they serve.
