Wilburn to be keynote speaker at annual MLK Jr. Day event

SIKESTON -- Dr. Victor R. Wilburn, a professor of child development and interim chair of the Department of Human Environmental Studies at Southeast Missouri State University, will be the keynote speaker during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event Monday at Green Memorial COGIC Church, 113 Clayton Ave., in Sikeston.

Events, which have the theme of "Empowering Your Dream," kick off with the 31st annual musical at 5 p.m. Saturday at Green Memorial Church.

Prior to Monday's official service, there will be a motorcade parade with line up starting at 10:30 a.m. at Green Memorial Church. The parade departs at 11 a.m. from the church to Malone Avenue. It will turn left on Malone to Sunset Drive and then right on Sunset to North Street to Salcedo, Main, Murray Lane, Jaycee and back to Malone before returning to Green Memorial on Clayton Street.

The program featuring Wilburn will follow the motorcade parade.

Michael Harris, who co-chairs the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day Committee in Sikeston with Mary White-Ross, described this year's guest speaker as a product of the south. He noted Wilburn has spent a number of years working in the social service field, particularly with juveniles, and as part of his message will share his experiences with the audience.

"Empowering your dreams is something that is needed for today," added Harris about this year's theme. "People need to be able to empower their dreams and not live lives dictated by the circumstances they are in but know they can rise above them. We hope that is the message brought over to the audience."

Refreshments will be served immediately following the program.

Wilburn's activities at the University consist of providing leadership and support to a department consisting of six academic programs and six community-based programs. He teaches in the areas of child development, family studies and education, research and student advising.

Wilburn has experience teaching courses in each of the child-related periods of development. He has also provided consultation and training to organizations committed to community development and preschool education. He has been at the current position since August 2008 and was promoted to associate professor in May 2011 and full professor in May 2015.

Wilburn has worked 10 years as a program supervisor working with children in state's custody. He has been responsible for staff training and development and resident crisis management. Also Wilburn has taught courses in child development for four years at the University of Tennessee and five years as an assistant professor at the University of Akron.

Wilburn earned his doctorate in child development at the University of Tennessee, his master's degree in rural sociology from the University of Tennessee and his bachelor's degree in rural development from Tennessee State University. He has conducted research on rural families and rural community development and also on children's development and explored psychosocial developmental outcomes. His works have been published in journals and presented at conferences.