Crystal Arlene Kuykendall

Dr. Crystal Kuykendall is President of K.I.R.K., Inc. a firm she founded to provide "Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids." K.I.R.K. produces audio and video tapes, publications, workbooks, and learning tools for educators, counselors, administrators and parents. A human relations and education expert, Dr. Kuykendall has gained national recognition for her extensive talents and expertise in promoting problem resolution. She has provided leadership and services for a growing national and international constituency.

Dr. Kuykendall's speeches reflect her unique background replete with personal victories, numerous professional responsibilities, and extensive public service. A university instructor and Executive Director of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, she has also been Director of Urban & Minority Relations for the National School Boards Association and Director of Marketing for RLA, Inc. Dr. Kuykendall has served on the Board of Directors of Health Power, Inc.; as Chairperson of the Henry C. Gregory, III Family Life Center Foundation of Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington; on the Advisory Board of the Congressional National Youth Leadership Conference; and on the Education Task Force of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Social Change. She has served as a member of the National Youth Leadership Conference as well as the National Education Task Force, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Mentoring Partnerships.

Dr. Kuykendall holds a doctorate in Educational Administration, a law degree from Georgetown University, and is a lifetime member of the NAACP & Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. In 1988, she was admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia.

A former schoolteacher, she has also been a guidance counselor for minority undergraduates and potential high school dropouts. In addition, she has been an instructor in the Black Studies and Sociology Departments of Seton Hall University and in the Education Department of Montclair State University.

In over 25 years of experience and service delivery, Dr. Kuykendall has received over 300 plaques, awards, and certificates, and numerous tributes and commendations for her efficacy in facilitating personal and professional empowerment, problem resolution, and organizational growth.

A prolific writer and dynamic speaker, Dr. Kuykendall has presented at over 1,000 national and international conferences. She has been a guest lecturer at several universities, and has been a consultant to city and/or school officials, parents, and civic/community groups in over 40 states. Whether she’s addressing CEOs, educators, administrators, youth, or seniors, she facilitates self analysis while inspiring change and growth.

The author of Improving Black Student Achievement Through Enhancing Self-Image and From Rage to Hope: Strategies for Reclaiming Black and Hispanic Students, Dr. Kuykendall has also been featured in newspaper articles and on television programs across the nation.