Florida State University to launch national search for successor

Ted Ellis, the inaugural director of Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute, will step down June 30 after helping expand the institute’s programming, partnerships and community engagement.

Housed in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the Civil Rights Institute (CRI) commemorates, celebrates and studies the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. The institute brings together students, faculty and staff from across academic disciplines, including sociology, public health, urban and regional planning, criminology, social work, medicine, nursing and education.

The CRI was conceived in 2018 by FSU alumni and siblings Doby and Fred Flowers, with support from a volunteer board of faculty, staff and community leaders. In 2023, the CRI expanded its operations with the backing of President Richard McCullough and Provost James Clark and hired Ellis, a nationally recognized artist and scientist, as its first full-time director.

“I am very grateful to Ted Ellis for so ably leading CRI,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “He has made a lasting and positive impact. FSU is deeply committed to searching for and hiring a new director to build on Ted’s legacy.”

During his more than two-and-a-half years as director, Ellis advanced the institute’s mission by engaging students, faculty, staff and the community through programming, research and partnerships that foster civil rights education and dialogue.

“Director Ellis has made a lasting impact on the Civil Rights Institute and on Florida State University,” said Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. “His passion, vision and commitment to expand the work of the CRI have helped the institute grow in meaningful ways, both on campus and in the broader Tallahassee community. I’m deeply grateful for all he has contributed during his time as director, and I wish him the very best in his future work to celebrate and promote civil rights for all.”

Under Ellis’s leadership, the CRI expanded its programming and community engagement efforts, including the launch of the C.K. Steele Speaker Series, named for Tallahassee civil rights leader Rev. Charles Kenzie Steele. The speaker series honors Steele’s legacy through lectures, workshops and discussions that explore civil rights issues, historical perspectives and contemporary challenges.

“While this chapter of my service concludes, my commitment to preserving, promoting, and advancing African American history remains unwavering,” Ellis said. “I will continue my work with the 400 Years of African American History Commission under the U.S. Department of the Interior and proudly support the ongoing growth and impact of the Florida State University Civil Rights Institute. The work of educating, inspiring, and empowering future generations through history, culture, and justice must continue — and I remain dedicated to that mission.”

A nationally acclaimed visual artist, Ellis holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Dillard University and a master’s in museum studies from Southern University in New Orleans. His work includes portraits of civil rights icons such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks and has been displayed in the halls of Congress.

Florida State University will launch a national search for the next director for the Civil Rights Institute. More information will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Florida State University will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with its 38th annual MLK Week. This year’s theme, “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,” will highlight how the FSU community can foster connection, understanding and shared responsibility through meaningful dialogue.

MLK Week takes place Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday, Jan. 20. All events are free and open to the public.

This year’s programming brings the Tallahassee community together with the MLK Commemoration Ceremony and Golden Torch Lecture Series on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Leslie Odom, Jr., songwriter, actor and New York Times-bestselling author, is this year’s keynote speaker.

“This year’s theme reflects our commitment to fostering understanding and meaningful connection across our campus and community,” said Felicia Williams, director of Student Engagement. “We are honored to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Florida State and look forward to a week of inspiring events, thought-provoking discussions and community engagement that challenge us to overcome divisions, strengthen relationships and continue Dr. King’s work.”

The Commemoration Ceremony will also feature performances from the FSU Gospel Choir and Dance Ensemble, and a presentation of scholarships to honor FSU community members.

Register for this free event at tickets.fsu.edu. Tickets will be available at noon on Thursday, Jan. 15, and are required for entry.

For more information and the full schedule of events, visit mlk.fsu.edu.

Featured upcoming MLK Week events include:

THURSDAY, JAN. 15

BREAKING BREAD AND BREAKING BARRIERS

MLK Dialogue Dinner

Doors: 6:30 p.m. | Event: 7 p.m.

FSU Alumni Center

This event centers on connection, understanding and shared responsibility. The evening is designed as a space where student leaders can come together to engage in meaningful conversation across differences. As individuals who help break barriers on our campus, we believe it is equally important to take time to break bread together, recognizing that dialogue, empathy and understanding are often nurtured most effectively around the table.

SATURDAY, JAN. 17

BUILDING TRADITION

Memories of a Living King hosted by Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute

6-8 p.m.

FSU Alumni Center

Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute will host the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration “Memories of a Living King.” The event honors the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a unique blend of art, performance and community engagement, with the following objectives: memorialize Dr. King’s contributions to the global community, educate and demonstrate the American Civil Rights Movement through the arts, and garner broad community input into the strategic direction of the FSU Civil Rights Institute.

This event is free and open to the public.

MONDAY, JAN. 19

BRIDGING COMMUNITY

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday and National Day of Service

Throughout Tallahassee

Below is a list of Tallahassee community events in honor of the national Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and ways to get involved with service all year round.

These events are free and open to the public.

• MLK Day Parade | Downtown Tallahassee | 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Dream Festival | Cascades Park | 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• MLK BBQ | Jack McLean Park, 700 Paul Russell Road | 2:30 p.m.

The 20th annual MLK barbecue, hosted by the Iota Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., commemorates the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event will include free food, local vendors, games and voter registration drive with LeonVotes.

Volunteer for service sites throughout the Tallahassee area in honor of Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to serving our communities all year round. Find a community service project with Engage TLH. Volunteers will be able to sign up for engagement opportunities via the Engage TLH portal.

TUESDAY, JAN. 20

BUILDING YOUR VOICE

MLK 2026 Commemoration Program and Golden Torch Lecture with Leslie Odom, Jr.

Doors: 6:30 p.m. | Event: 7 p.m.

Ruby Diamond Concert Hall

Enjoy a night celebrating FSU community members, featuring a performance by the FSU Gospel Choir, and an engaging conversation with our keynote speaker Leslie Odom, Jr. This commemoration event for FSU’s 38th Annual MLK Week is one you won’t want to miss!

This event is free and open to the public.

Community members can secure a ticket for this event at tickets.fsu.edu. Tickets open at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15.

About the keynote speaker: Leslie Odom, Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter, actor, and New York Times bestselling author. Odom is best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton,” but has continued to captivate audiences across multiple platforms through six albums, two books, and an unbelievable amount of television, film, and stage roles. Film and television credits include Rian Johnson’s record-breaking 2022 Knives Out sequel, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” for Netflix, “Abbott Elementary,” “Harriet,” “The Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel to David Chase’s award-winning HBO series The Sopranos, Apple TV+’s Central Park (2020 Emmy nomination), “Hamilton” on Disney+ (2021 Emmy nomination), host of “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!” on CBS (2022 Emmy nomination), “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” and many more.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

The FSU Department of Student Engagement, under the Division of Student Affairs, promotes student growth through collaboration and leads campus programming that connects students to the university, providing a sense of belonging where they can evolve and make an impact throughout the world. Learn more at engagement.fsu.edu.

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The College of Social Work at Florida State University hosted its 2025 Scholarship and Awards dinner, honoring distinguished alumni with six awards and more than 90 student scholars.

More than $109,625 in scholarships were provided to undergraduate and graduate social work students with interests in areas including child welfare, social policy, international social work, social work practice and military veterans.

The event also marked the introduction of the Dean’s Award, which recognizes friends of the College of Social Work who have made a significant contribution to the college’s mission of enhancing well-being, building community and shaping policy.

The 2025 Dean’s Award was presented to the MSW Class of 1975, whose members have made significant contributions to society and human rights for 50 years. The MSW Class of 1975 not only endowed a scholarship to represent its class, but members of this class have endowed four additional scholarships.

The College of Social Work Alumni Award recipients included:

Distinguished Emeritus Alumni Award

Doby Flowers (BS ’71, MS ’73) is a seventh-generation Tallahassee resident and two-time FSU graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1971 and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from FSU. She also became FSU’s first African American homecoming queen in 1970. At the time she was one of only 35 Black students among a campus of 18,000 students at FSU.

In 1995 she purchased the historic Magnolia Leaf House in Thomasville, Georgia, preserving the home and establishing it as the Magnolia Leaf Bed and Breakfast, which remains in operation today. She also joined her brother Fred Flowers at his law firm Flowers, Law, LLC in 1997 as firm manager.

She and Fred also co-founded the Civil Rights Institute at FSU, which is committed to researching civil rights in America and encouraging social change.

Distinguished Young Alumni Award

Oluremi “Remi” Abiodun (MSW/ JD ’21) is a program associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, collaborating with stakeholders working to strategically reform policies to address the root causes of violent crime and to reduce mass incarceration, racial disparities and the detention of people with mental health conditions.

Prior to joining Vera, Abiodun worked at the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights where social work was the lens through which she practiced law. She worked with children facing life sentences and spearheaded their civil legal services division to work on issues of education, housing, immigration, and benefits.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish from Spelman College and a juris doctorate and MSW degree from FSU. Prior to graduate school, Abiodun spent three years teaching sixth-grade math at a Title One school in New Orleans.

Distinguished Social Work Educator Alumni Award

Karen Sowers (MSW ’77, Ph.D. ’86) is dean and professor emerita of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville College of Social Work. She was appointed as the Beaman Professor and dean of the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1997, retiring from the position in 2017. She served in faculty leadership roles at the Florida International University School of Social Work, serving as director (1994-1997) and as undergraduate program director (1986-1994).

Sowers is nationally known for her scholarship in the areas of international practice, juvenile justice, child welfare, culturally effective intervention strategies for social work practice, evidence-based social work practice and social work education. Sowers served as a founding editorial board member of the Journal of Research on Social Work Practice and founding co-editor of Best Practices in Mental Health: An International Journal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Central Florida in 1974, along with an MSW (1977) and a doctoral degree (1986) in social work from FSU. She is the recipient of the FSU Outstanding Alumna Award and the Mental Health of America’s 2016 George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award.

Distinguished Social Work Practice Alumni Award

Matthew “Matt” Claps (MSW ’00) is the principal and owner of Matthew Claps Consulting, LLC and in January, he will step into the role as executive director of the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group, leading their work to help child welfare and behavioral health systems drive transformative, family-centered change. He has more than 25 years of experience as a practitioner, administrator and consultant working across philanthropic, non-profit and state/federal government leading initiatives to advance the quality of practice and to improve outcomes for youth and families involved with the child welfare and behavioral health systems. He is nationally recognized for expertise in practice model implementation and continuous quality improvement in human services.

Currently, Claps is providing technical assistance to several child welfare and behavioral health systems, including program evaluation with New Mexico behavioral health system through his affiliation with New Mexico State University’s Center of Innovation. He also provides expert witness and testimony on issues related to child welfare systems improvement. Claps served as principal technical assistance consultant at the American Institutes for Research (2023-2025) and as senior director of practice for Casey Family Programs (2011-2023). Claps also previously held senior state government leadership positions (2006-2011) in child welfare and developmental disability services systems and has served as a management consultant in human services settings with various states, counties and tribes.

Distinguished Social Policy and Administration Alumni Award

Gwynn Virostek (MSW ’22) earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in social work from FSU in 2022. Virostek is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history working in financial services and non-profit organizations, with expertise in successfully integrating disparate teams and operations following mergers, acquisitions or critical internal transitions. Her expertise was forged during a three-decade career in banking, culminating in an executive role with Washington Mutual where she successfully integrated retail cultures across 1,100 branches nationwide and operational units in multiple countries. She now applies her extensive executive and clinical expertise by delivering critical services to vulnerable families and children, serving as the president and chief executive officer at Capital City Youth Services in Tallahassee since 2020.

She is a long-time volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem working with abused and neglected children in Florida and is a dedicated philanthropist working with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy to support literacy initiatives for youths and families. She currently serves on several committees and boards including the FSU Libraries Advisory Board, Big Bend Hospice Executive Committee, Big Bend Continuum of Care board, Truist Community Advisory Board and current chair of the Municipal Code Enforcement Board for the City of Tallahassee.

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During Black History Month, America celebrates the legacy of Black Americans whose leadership brought about positive change across the nation. Florida State University’s new Civil Rights Institute Director, Ted Ellis, will travel to Capitol Hill this month as Acting Chair for the federal 400 Years of African-American History Commission (400YAAHC).

“Civil rights and Black History Month are not mere chapters in our national narrative, they are the vibrant threads that weave the fabric of our shared identity,” Ellis said. “In celebrating these milestones, we honor the resilience, dignity and triumph of a people who have not only shaped the past but continue to illuminate the path toward a more just and equitable future. Let us not just observe, but actively engage, for in understanding and embracing our history, we empower ourselves to create a legacy of true equality and opportunity for all.”

In Washington, D.C., Ellis and the 400YAAHC will be presenting the commission’s “I Fear for My Life” program. The program focuses on conversations between law enforcement and communities of color and aims to improve policing and criminal justice outcomes.

The commission will also be showcasing the film “The Kemba Story” on Capitol Hill in recognition of Black History Month. The film and panel discussion evolved from the commission’s “I Fear for My Life” program.

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Hundreds gathered in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at a celebration hosted by Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute (CRI) under the leadership of Director Ted Ellis on Jan. 15 in the Champions Club West Ballroom.

The event kicked off a week-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a keynote address delivered by the Rev. Dr. R. B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee.

The Civil Rights Institute at FSU unveiled the C.K. Steele Speaker Series. Named after Rev. Charles Kenzie Steele, a prominent and dynamic Tallahassee-based leader in the Civil Rights Movement, this series perpetuates Rev. Steele’s legacy through organizing enlightening lectures, workshops, and community discussions. The purpose is to provide a platform for conversations on issues, historical perspectives, and contemporary challenges in the area of Civil Rights.

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