Dr. Crystal Kuykendall Presents Riall Lecture April 17-18
SALISBURY, MD---When Ebony magazine named Dr. Crystal Kuykendall one of the “50 Leaders of the Future” in 1979, its editors proved prophetic. More than a quarter century later, Kuykendall has become a renowned advocate for minority education in the United States.
The dynamic educator, author and speaker comes to Salisbury University 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, where in Holloway Hall auditorium she delivers the next E. Pauline Riall Lecture Series address. She speaks again during a question-and-answer session with education students 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall.
“Kuykendall was the keynote speaker at the Kappa Delta Pi convocation in Florida in the fall, and the KDP students returned with such enthusiasm about her presentation that the Riall committee could not ignore their request for our consideration of her,” said Dr. Laura Marasco, coordinator of the Riall series. “We are delighted that she was able to accept our invitation and excited to hear and learn from her experience in the field.”
A former elementary and secondary public school teacher, Kuykendall was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the National Advisory Council on Continuing Education, which she chaired from 1979-1981. She has authored several books, including Developing Leadership for Parent/Citizen Groups, Improving Black Student Achievement Through Enhancing Self Image and the national bestseller From Rage to Hope: Strategies for Reclaiming Black and Hispanic Students.
Born and raised in Chicago, Kuykendall earned her Master of Arts in sociology from Montclair State University and her doctorate in educational administration from Atlanta University. She went on to receive her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1981.
During the past two decades she has served as executive director of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, director of urban and minority relations for the National School Boards Association and director of the Citizens Training Institute for the National Committee for Citizens in Education.
She also has served on the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Social Change Education Task Force and has been a member of the National Youth Leadership Conference, the National Education Task Force and the Maryland Mentoring Partnerships Board of Directors.
Her speaking engagements have included talks for The National Wellness Institute, National PTA, Junior Achievement National Board of Directors and American Association for Counseling Development, as well as universities and civic organizations nationwide.
Through her company, Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids (K.I.R.K.), founded in 1989, she provides long-term technical assistance and consulting services for school and youth programs. Sponsored by the Education Department, Kuykendall’s talks are free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu. "