The director of Troy University’s Rosa Parks Museum will speak at LBW Community College Wednesday in recognition of Black History Month.

Dr. Felicia A. Bell, took over as the museum’s director, on June 1.

Bell has long been an advocate for preserving African American heritage. Research for her dissertation garnered attention from Congress, and, in 2007 she gave an expert testimony before the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on House Administration about the use of enslaved and free black craftsmen to construct the U.S. Capitol. Her testimony, along with that of others, resulted in a bill to name the Capitol Visitor Center’s great hall, “Emancipation Hall.” The bill was signed into law in December 2007.

Mollie Waters, an instructor at LBW, organized the event.

“Rosa Parks was one of the most important figures of the Civil Rights Movement, but students typically only associate her with the bus boycott,” said Waters. “I hope Dr. Bell will provide new information about Mrs. Parks. She will also talk about the Rosa Parks Museum, and maybe students will consider visiting it in the future. We have so much history so close to Greenville, but we don’t always take advantage of learning about it.”

Bell said that while the primary audience will be LBW students, the event is open to anyone.

“We encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about Rosa Parks, the museum dedicated in her honor, or the Civil Rights Movement to attend,” said Waters.

Bell will speak at 11 a.m. at the Wendell Mitchell Conference Center on the campus of LBW Community College.

The event is free.