The URI Chaplains Association and the Center for Nonviolence and Peace congratulate Dr. Christopher Hunter from the College of Engineering and Leetal Young, a graduate student in the College of Health Sciences, for winning the 2026 MLK Peacemaker Award.
Dr. Christopher D. Hunter is an award-winning STEM educator with over 25 years of experience in academia, primarily as a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. He has also enjoyed serving as the Associate Director of the Honors Program, the Interim Associate Dean, and the Interim Dean. According to his nominator, he demonstrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s understanding of peace through sustained advocacy, ethical leadership, and nonviolent engagement that centers justice, dignity, and belonging. His commitment to peacebuilding is evident in his support for students from historically underserved communities.
He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from Morehouse College and his master’s and Ph.D. Degrees from the University of Washington, where he focused on Transportation Engineering while studying in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. He has been a committed transportation engineering specialist, drawing on knowledge from transportation planning, traffic engineering, traffic systems operations, and public transportation systems. He teaches courses on transportation engineering, intelligent transportation systems, traffic systems operations, and foundations in engineering. His research interests include traffic system operations, traffic safety, transportation sustainability, and engineering education.
He has been adept at creating and modifying curriculum and working with students as an advisor and mentor to prepare them for personal and professional success in a competitive society. Since his days in graduate school, he has been dedicated to outreach in exposing students to STEM opportunities through various work with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the AASHTO-based Transportation Careers in Civil Engineering (TRAC) program, which was dedicated to going into high schools with science and math-based investigations that linked to engineering activities associated with department of transportation work. He also serves on the Board as President of Global Science and Envirotech in Rhode Island, which is dedicated to exposing middle and high school students to STEM fields through scientific and engineering investigations in the Cranston, RI area. This has also been linked to mentoring activities with his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he continues to mentor through the local alumni chapter. He has served as the advisor of the URI NSBE chapter, the URI American Society of Civil Engineers chapter, and the URI Institute of Transportation Engineers chapter.
He defines himself as a compassionate ‘inclusionist’, grounded in his Christian faith, life experiences, and his desire to live a life that conveys love as specified in I Corinthians 13:4-8. This provides the context for how he tries to live his life. This spills over into his music as well, and he has served in various capacities in churches as a musician, playing piano, organ, or keyboard at various stages. Sometimes, he also sings. Olney Street Baptist Church in Providence, RI, is where he currently enjoys sharing in the ministry of music. Also, through this music affiliation, he has helped bring the Morehouse College Glee Club to Providence on three separate occasions.
Colleagues often describe Dr. Hunter as a calming voice during moments of disagreement or tension. He listens carefully and responds with clarity and respect. His presence helps guide difficult conversations toward constructive outcomes. This practice reflects nonviolence as an active and disciplined approach to conflict grounded in justice and understanding. Through his advocacy, mentorship, and leadership, Dr. Chris Hunter advances Dr. King’s vision of peace as the presence of justice.
He has been married to Maria Lynn Hunter for twenty-seven years, and they have two adult children, who both still live in Rhode Island. Maria and Chris also have typically had two dogs in their household, and these have been primarily golden retrievers. Currently, a golden retriever and a goldendoodle live with them to add extra flavor to their lives.
Leetal Young is a graduate student in Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling at the University of Rhode Island and the Graduate Research Assistant for URI’s inaugural Collegiate Recovery Program. Her work centers on peacebuilding through community care, interfaith dialogue, and inclusive wellness initiatives.
A former president of URI Hillel, Leetal founded Interfaith Friendsgiving, a campus and community wide gathering focused on bringing together people of different faiths, cultures, generations, and identities around shared conversation, service, and celebration. She is also the founder of URI’s Exercise is Medicine On Campus chapter and has led numerous programs that cultivate connection, peace and belonging across campus.
Leetal leads authentically with both lived experience and academic training and is deeply committed to creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered. She believes that people supporting people is at the heart of lasting change and strives to create communities where individuals from all backgrounds feel a sense of belonging and shared humanity.