MassBay Community College Interim President Salomon-Fernandez to Speak at World of Wellesley King Celebration Breakfast

WELLESLEY HILLS, MASS. – MassBay Community College is pleased to announce Interim President Yves Salomon-Fernandez will be the keynote speaker at the World of Wellesley’s 16th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast and Celebration on Monday, January 18 at Wellesley College.

“We are in the midst of a new civil rights movement with the country recognizing marriage equality,” said MassBay Interim President Yves Salomon-Fernandez. “Minority college-going rates are increasing, but not necessarily degree-attainment rates. We are seeing a new wave of brutality involving people of color. We have immigrants of certain faith being told that they are not welcome here. There is a role here for higher education and college presidents, specifically, to play in advancing the discourse on harmony and understanding one another beyond our campuses. I am grateful and delighted to have been chosen as the keynote speaker this year.”

MassBay Community College has a campus in Framingham.

World of Wellesley is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to making Wellesley a welcoming community where diversity is celebrated. The World of Wellesley sponsored events, programs and projects are held in conjunction with many Wellesley institutions, emphasizing the value in exploring different cultures, religions and ways of life.

“The World of Wellesley is honored to have Dr. Salomon-Fernandez provide the keynote address at the annual World of Wellesley Martin Luther King Breakfast,” World of Wellesley President Michelle Chalmers. “Yves, a former board member of the World of Wellesley, is an amazing woman who always brought energy and passion to the organization and we couldn’t be more thrilled that she accepted the invitation to be a part of this important community event celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

This is the second year the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast celebration will be held at and co-sponsored by Wellesley College.

This year’s breakfast and program, featuring choral music and an energetic dance presentation by Wellesley High School’s Thunder Step Squad will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Wellesley College Alumnae Hall, followed by a family program of interactive MLK-themed activities. People interested in attending either events should RSVP for tickets at WorldofWellesley@yahoo.com.

“We are thrilled to have President Salomon-Fernandez visiting us as Wellesley College”, said Wellesley College Associate Provost and Academic Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Robbin Chapman. “Dr. Salomon-Fernandez is a strong, insightful and strategic leader who embodies the ideals that to make positive change in the world we must boldly lead and brilliantly serve. I can imagine no one more fitting to lead our reflections on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She has been a force for elevating STEM education and career opportunities for MassBay students, and creating strong MassBay partnerships with the town of Wellesley and other surrounding communities. Finding new ways we may connect with one another was one of Dr. King’s lessons for us all and President Salomon-Fernandez has put that philosophy into actions that benefit us all. President Bottomly, the Wellesley College community, and I thank President Salomon-Fernandez for sharing her vision, her insights, and her reflections on the life of Dr. King.”

Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez was appointed as Interim President of MassBay in 2015. Prior to her appointment, she served as the College’s dean and vice president, overseeing its institutional research, grants development, strategic planning, and partnership-building work. In addition, she served as the executive office for the Framingham campus, MassBay’s second-largest campus.

She is a frequent contributor to the New England Journal of Higher Education, a blogger for Inside Higher Ed, faculty member at Salem State University and currently sits on the Executive Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Network of the American Council on Education’s National Network of Women Leaders, the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, and the MetroWest/495 Corridor Partnership. Salomon-Fernandez is also the former co-chair of the Governor’s STEM Council, College and Career Readiness Committee and a former board member of the World of Wellesley. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, her master’s degree in economic history from the London School of Economics and her Ph.D. in educational research, measurement, and evaluation from Boston College.