Florida A&M University Announces Kristin Harper as Fall 2025 Commencement Speaker
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) is proud to announce Kristin Harper, esteemed marketing executive, entrepreneur, and FAMU alumna, as the keynote speaker for its Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony. The ceremony will be held on Friday, December 12 at 6 p.m. in the Al Lawson Center.
“Kristin Harper’s commitment to giving back – to FAMU, to HBCU students, and the next generation – speaks volumes about her mission and character. Her return to the Hill is a proud moment for the entire FAMU community,” said FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D. “She reflects the talent and drive that inspires and I am sure that her words will resonate deeply with our graduates and remind them that their FAMU education is both a foundation and a springboard to a successful future.”
Harper is the founder and CEO of Driven to Succeed LLC, an award-winning market research and consulting firm. A trailblazer in the corporate world, she rose from intern to Global Vice President at a Fortune 15 company before founding her own firm, which serves clients across industries including healthcare, fintech, and consumer goods.
“Education is a transformative force, and I’m thrilled to return to the ‘Highest of Seven Hills’ to celebrate a new generation of Rattlers whose brilliance, resilience, and purpose will carry FAMU’s legacy forward,” said Harper.
Throughout her career, Harper led household brands like Crest®, Oral-B®, and Hershey’s KISSES® during her tenures at Procter & Gamble, The Hershey Company, and Cardinal Health. She is also the author of “The Heart of a Leader: 52 Emotional Intelligence Insights to Advance Your Career” and has been featured in national outlets including CNBC, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider.
A passionate advocate for FAMU and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Harper and her husband Andre—whom she met at FAMU—established an endowed scholarship for SBI students and co-founded Pacesetters Unlimited, a nonprofit that has taken dozens of students on HBCU tours and awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships to HBCU-bound scholars.
Harper is the immediate past chair of the FAMU Board of Trustees, where she led key initiatives that elevated FAMU’s national ranking and helped solidify its position as the nation’s top public HBCU and top 100 higher education institution.
A proud lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Harper co-chaired the BADST Fortitude campaign, a historic grassroots scholarship fundraising campaign that ushered in an era of affinity giving at FAMU.
Harper earned her Bachelor’s and MBA degrees simultaneously from FAMU’s School of Business and Industry program. She also served as the third female Student Government Association president in FAMU’s history. Together, she and Andre are proud parents of three children including a second-generation Rattler.
Approximately 580 students from the University’s 14 schools and colleges will receive their degrees during the fall ceremony. It will be live-streamed on FAMU Facebook and on YouTube at @FAMUTube1887.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.communications
