Angela Rye, who brings a unique perspective of strategy and policymaking inside the beltway of the nation’s capital, will be the speaker at Texas Southern University’s Spring 2019 Commencement. The ceremonies will take place at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019, in the Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Arena.
Rye is principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm in Washington D.C. The Seattle native and prominent political strategist has been published in several media outlets from Ebony to the Washington Post and is a regular on-air personality for BET, CNN, MSBC, C-SPAN and TV One. Rye engages in challenging conversations and has become a critical voice on many of the pressing issues of our time. She has an unwavering commitment to ensuring positive change in the political process.
Rye develops tailor-made solutions for high profile clients and is highly sought after for her approach to political strategy, issue advocacy, and public engagement. Rye has over a decade of experience in government contracting, homeland security, civil rights, higher education political fundraising, strategic communications, and issue advocacy. She began her career in legislative advocacy and has a deep passion and commitment to shoring up efforts to increase knowledge of the political process for her colleagues, peers, and others nationwide.
A proud graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law, Rye serves on the boards of the following groups: Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Seattle University School of Law Alumni Board, Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network and Government Technology & Services Coalition. She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated, the Washington Government Relations Group, the National Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
