Dr. Crystal A. deGregory

  • GET HER DUE — WHERE WOMEN FINALLY GET WHAT THEY'RE OWED
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Book Crystal

SEE THE PAST.

NAME
THE

TRUTH.

SHAPE THE FUTURE.

Insightful, evidence-driven storytelling that challenges readers, listeners, and institutions to think, feel, and act differently.

BOOK CRYSTAL
Explore Her Work
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WHY TRUTH STILL MATTERS - NOW MORE THAN EVER

We’re living in a world full of noise — where narratives shift faster than the news cycle and where institutions struggle to keep pace with the people they serve. In moments like these, truth isn’t simply information. It’s orientation. It’s clarity. It’s a compass.
And yes — truth sells. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s essential. Because people are tired of distortion and hungry for meaning. Because leaders, communities, and cultures can’t change what they won’t name.

WHAT IF WE LEARNED TO SEE OUR WORLD MORE HONESTLY? WHAT IF TELLING THE TRUTH COULD CHANGE WHAT COMES NEXT?

HERE'S THE TRUTH.

We are navigating times when memory feels fragile and accountability feels optional. But transformation — the deep, lasting kind — begins with understanding. With the courage to face the past. With the willingness to ask better questions. With the discipline to learn what shaped us and the imagination to choose something different.

We are navigating times when memory feels fragile and accountability feels optional. But transformation — the deep, lasting kind — begins with understanding. With the courage to face the past. With the willingness to ask better questions. With the discipline to learn what shaped us and the imagination to choose something different.

My work lives at that intersection: where evidence meets empathy, where history meets humanity, where storytelling becomes a tool for courage, clarity, and change. I help readers, listeners, and institutions make meaning of the past so they can lead more wisely in the present and shape a future rooted in dignity, context, and truth. Because when we see the past clearly, we create space for a different future — one we can shape with intention, honesty, and hope.

NAMING WHAT WE INHERIT

REIMAGINING WHAT WE BECOME.

WHO I AM

WHO HELPS LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES MAKE SENSE OF WHAT THEY’VE INHERITED.

A historian and public scholar with a storyteller’s gift, she brings evidence, clarity, and cultural context to the conversations that matter most: identity, memory, leadership, belonging, and change.
Crystal advises institutions navigating complex histories, cultural tension, organizational transformation, and the work of making their missions match their impact. Her talks move audiences beyond information toward insight — helping them think, feel, and act differently in moments that demand depth, honesty, and vision.

The creator of Her Due, founding director of HBCUstory, and architect behind projects like the Bethune at 150 Syllabus and Dorian + Beyond, she works at the intersection of truth, leadership, and human dignity. Whether in a boardroom, a classroom, or a room full of decision-makers, Crystal offers more than perspective — she offers a path to what’s possible.

IF YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN HOLD THE HARD QUESTIONS, TRANSLATE COMPLEXITY WITH GRACE, AND GUIDE PEOPLE TOWARD CLARITY AND COURAGE, CRYSTAL BRINGS THAT WORK TO LIFE.

  • Recognized Leader
  • Featured Commentator
  • Published Author
  • National Convener
  • Advanced Scholar
  • Historian & Storyteller
Learn More

MY WORK IS BUILT FOR PEOPLE AND PLACES WHO ARE READY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PAST, SPEAK WITH HONESTY, AND LEAD WITH DIGNITY. WHETHER YOU NEED STRATEGY, STORY, OR STEADY HANDS THROUGH CHANGE, THERE’S A PATH HERE BUILT FOR YOU.

Story & Identity

Positioning, purpose, and narrative clarity that help leaders and institutions understand who they
are — and why it matters.

Culture & Leadership

Culture by Design

Values translated into everyday behaviors, practices, and standards that shape a culture ofdignity and accountability.

Strategy Through Story

A focused 90-day path from insight to action, with shared priorities, responsible owners, meaningful metrics, and aligned cadence

Speaking & Facilitation

Keynotes, moderated conversations, listening sessions, and guided dialogues that spark clarity, honesty, and forward movement.

Writing & Thought Partnership

Op-eds, articles, executive messaging, and content strategy that help leaders speak with truth, authority, and courage.

THERE IS NO WORK LIKE MINE.

I became a historian because I was raised on memory — the kind that isn’t written in textbooks, but carried in the mouths, hands, and heartbreaks of the people I come from.

I learned early that stories could save us, strengthen us, and stitch us back together after the world tried to pull us apart.

I didn’t set out to become a speaker, a convener, or a consultant. I simply kept showing up in the places where silence had done enough damage. I listened. I named what others tried not to see. I told the truth in ways that honored people’s dignity, even when the truth was heavy.
Then life demanded that I pivot — more than once. I survived storms, institutions, expectations, and the kinds of battles that leave you changed but not destroyed. I watched systems fail the people they claimed to serve. I watched communities hold each other up when no one else would. And I learned that telling the truth is not an academic exercise — it’s a lifeline.

Somehow, through it all, I found my voice. I built platforms, not because I wanted attention, but because I wanted women, Black women especially, to have their stories held with care and their
brilliance recognized without apology. I built Her Due. 

Because when one person finds the language to name their truth, a whole community can begin to heal. If we name what we inherit, we can reimagine what we become — together.

My story isn’t neat — but it’s real. And we are all living in a world where clarity, context, and courage matter more than ever. As I’ve navigated grief, growth, injustice, and reinvention, I’ve learned something simple but saving:

When we face what we’ve inherited, we can finally imagine what we can become.

  • That’s the heart of my work.
  • That’s why I speak.
  • That’s why I write.
  • That’s why I show up.
Because when one person finds the language to name their truth, a whole community can begin to heal.

If we name what we inherit, we can reimagine what we become — together.

— Crystal A. deGregory, Ph.D.

NAMING WHAT WE INHERIT

REIMAGINING WHAT WE BECOME.

"Her gift of storytelling makes her a Standout"

She has an unfaltering commitment to uplift HBCUs in a way that places our institutions at the forefront of national dialogue, a place where we are often left out.

— Maxine Greenleaf, University Vice President

"Dr. deGregory is he type of historian we need more of today."

She is engaged, in the best sense of that word, with communities both inside and outside of the academy. She works with all, and brings her skill to bear on issues that matter most.

— Carroll Van West, Ph.D. State Historian

"She is A profound and provocative storyteller."

Her delivery — with original and thought-provoking context as well as a breadth of historical references and appropriate analyses — have made her a voice for her generation.

— Sheena Butler, Senior Correspondent

"A natural leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity."

Whether it’s tackling new initiatives or supporting others in their development, Dr. deGregory’s positive impact is felt at every level.

— DeLisa Minor Harris, Library Services Director

"She raises the intellectual climate in any room she enters. "

She bridges scholarship and soul, creating space for truth that heals and propels. Dr. deGregory knowledge, skills, and leadership are masterful for driving structural and cultural change at an institution.

— F. Erik Brooks, Ph.D. University Provost

"An extraordinary talent for captivating storytelling."

Anyone fortunate enough to work with or learn from Crystal will undoubtedly benefit from her wealth of knowledge, skills, and unwavering dedication to service and excellence.

— Linwood Hawkins, Jr., Creative Professional

LET’S SHAPE THE STORY THAT UNLOCKS WHAT’S NEXT.

Insightful, evidence-driven storytelling for leaders, listeners, and institutions ready for change.

If you’re navigating a moment that needs clarity, alignment, or courage, my work meets you there. I help teams name what they carry, understand what it means, and turn it into language that leads somewhere true. You don’t have to have it all figured out — you just need a place to begin.
From keynotes and workshops to strategy sessions and cultural storytelling, I help leaders, foundations, campuses, and communities bring dignity, truth, and usable insight into the room. If you need support shaping your next step, start the conversation below.
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