MNU’s 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration

College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe, Kansas

January 20, 2026 @ 9:30 am

Jan. 20, 2026 at 9:30 am

College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E. Sheridan, Olathe, Kansas

MNU honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during our Gathering Chapel, at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. Join MNU students, faculty, staff and community leaders at this event.

Each year MNU presents its Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Legacy Award to an individual who represents the values of Dr. King’s legacy. In addition, diversity activities at MNU are highlighted.

2026 Speaker & Living Legacy Award Recipient

Rev. Darryl Answer was born and raised in London, England. He is a bi-vocational pastor, community development practitioner, and urban strategist based in Kansas City, where he has spent over fifteen years working at the intersection of discipleship, justice, and neighborhood renewal. As a church planter, he co-founded New Community Church—a multiethnic, multi-class congregation committed to racial justice and holistic transformation. Darryl has led community development initiatives in disinvested neighborhoods, collaborated with city leaders and grassroots organizers, and facilitated leadership formation cohorts for emerging leaders of color across urban contexts.

Darryl equips churches to move beyond Sunday-centric models and into place-based mission. His leadership leans toward participation—training leaders to lead from love, not fear, and from relationship, not hierarchy.

Darryl, his wife, Stephanie and their two children, Jaidyn and Kian live in Kansas City, Missouri.

2026 Sponsors

UNITY COMMITMENT SPONSORSHIP

City of Olathe

FAITH COMMITMENT SPONSORSHIP

Olathe Chamber of Commerce

The University of Kansas Health System / Olathe Health

Wallentine Injury Law

HOPE COMMITMENT SPONSORSHIP

Harlan C. Parker Insurance Agency

Johnson County NAACP

Kansas City District Church of the Nazarene

Precision Printing

Sponsors of the event support diversity activities at MNU. Contact Eric Bryant at 913.971.3462 to learn more.

Dr. Abby Hodges

Vice President for Academic Affairs

PhD; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
MS; Organic Chemistry, Yale University
BS; Chemistry, Denison University

Dr. Hodges began her career in higher education at Azusa Pacific University as a chemistry professor from 2008 to 2014. She then moved to MNU where she taught and in 2018 was appointed Chair of the Department of Natural, Health, and Mathematical Sciences. From 2022-2023, before accepting the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Hodges was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hodges’ career research has focused on protein folding and protein engineering, and she has mentored over twenty students in these research projects. She has also furthered the MNU first-year experience program and chaired the General Education committee for five years. Dr. Hodges was recognized as the MNU Faculty of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hodges lives in Olathe with her husband Ryan and two boys.

University Cooperative Program

Advantages of the MNU & Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science cooperative program:

3+2 Option: Students spend 3 years at MNU and then transfer to WashU for 2 years to earn an undergraduate engineering degree from WashU and a bachelor’s degree from MNU, or
3+3 Option: Students spend 3 years at MNU and then transfer to WashU for 3 years to earn an undergraduate engineering degree from WashU, a bachelor’s degree from MNU, plus a master’s in engineering from WashU.
Combines the best of MNU with the strength of a top engineering school
Students participating in the 3+3 options receive a 50-60% tuition discount at WashU
GRE is not required for admission

To qualify for entry into the program at MNU students must:

Enter the program at MNU at the beginning of the freshman year through the application process
Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 or better in science and mathematics courses
Meet regularly with the MNU pre-professional committee

To qualify for program completion at WashU students must:

Complete all General Education requirements at MNU
Complete a minimum of 90 credit hours of transferable college credit
Complete the following courses:
- Chemistry: one semester of general chemistry with lab
- Computer Programming: One course or certified proficiency in a high-level language
- English Composition: One course or certified proficiency
- Humanities and Social Sciences: At least 15 hours (see WashU website for specific prerequisites)
- Mathematics: See WashU website for specific prerequisites
- Physics: One year calculus-based physics with lab
See WashU website for department-specific prerequisites

To learn more about program offerings at MNU and degree specific prerequisites, visit engineering.wustl.edu/dualdegree

Other restrictions and qualifications may apply.

For additional information, contact Craig Masters at cmasters@mnu.edu