Actor, philanthropist Harper to give Coppin St. commencement keynote address

Humanitarian, award-winning actor, best-selling author and entrepreneur Hill Harper will be the keynote speaker for Coppin State University’s 2021 commencement event on May 14.

The university’s commencement committee has been developing plans for the 2021 ceremony, since August 2020. In addition to exploring plans for a virtual ceremony, the committee is also working to determine how CSU might be able to host an in-person commencement ceremony.

Harper, also a health and wellness ambassador/educator and philanthropist, stars in the ABC Televison drama, “The Good Doctor” and hosts a new podcast, COMMAS, that premiered during Black History Month, last month. In theaters, Harper can be seen currently in “A Sun Is Also A Star,” starring Yara Shahidi.

In addition to his performing career, Harper has authored four New York Times bestsellers: “Letters to a Young Brother,” “Letters to a Young Sister,” “The Conversation” and “The Wealth Cure,” which chronicled his diagnosis with thyroid cancer and his journey to health.

“Letters to a Young Brother” won several awards and was named the Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association in 2007.

Harper has been recognized with seven NAACP Image Awards, four of them for his writing. His latest book, “Letters to an Incarcerated Brother,” which speaks to the current mass incarceration crisis, was released to critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards.

Harper is the founder of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through mentorship, scholarship and grant programs.

Harper was born in Iowa City, Iowa as the son of two doctors – his father, a psychiatrist and his mother, an anesthesiologist. He graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts and was named valedictorian of his department.

Harper then graduated with a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and earned a master’s degree in public administration, with honors, from the Kennedy School of Government. He holds honorary doctorates from Howard University, Winston-Salem State University, Cheyney University, Le-Moyne Owen College, Westfield State College, Dillard University and Tougaloo College.