Mississippi Valley State University will host the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Convocation at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in the Walter Roberts Auditorium, H.G. Carpenter Building.
The 2025 Black History Month theme, “African Americans and Labor,” highlights the significant contributions of Black workers throughout history and their vital role in shaping Black communities and American society.
The keynote speaker will be Willie Simmons, Central District Transportation Commissioner.
Simmons, who is entering his second term, represents 22 counties with a population of about 1 million people. At the Mississippi Transportation Commission’s first meeting in 2024, he was named chairman of the Central Transportation District.
During his first term, Simmons oversaw projects such as the completion of Highway 49, the I-20 Bridge Replacement, and the start of the State Route 19 project. Phase 2 of the Greenville Bypass and the completed US 61/State Route 553 project are also part of his accomplishments.
Before his current role, Simmons served as a Mississippi State Senator for more than 26 years, including eight years as Chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Under his leadership, over $5 billion was invested in state roads, streets, bridges, and public transit, ports, railroads, and airports. He also played a key role in repairing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Jackson and upgrading Highway 8 in Cleveland.
Simmons previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Corrections and is a Vietnam War combat veteran. He holds degrees from Alcorn State University, Delta State University (M.S. and Ed.S.), and is married to Rose Sibley Simmons. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.