Lauren Keyana “Keke” Palmer, an accomplished actress, television personality, singer, songwriter and rapper, will kick off North Carolina Central University’s 2019-2020 Rock the Lyceum lecture series as the feature speaker at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Miller-Morgan Auditorium on the NCCU campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
An Illinois native, Palmer is a co-host on the daytime talk show “Strahan, Sara, and Keke” on ABC, alongside Sara Haines and Michael Strahan. She is set to star alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu in the movie “Hustlers,” to be released on Sept. 13. She most recently started in Fox’s hit show “Scream Queens” as Zayday Williams.
Palmer is well known for her roles in “Barbershop 2: Back to Business,” “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Madea’s Family Reunion,” “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” and “True Jackson, VP.” She has co-starred alongside award-nominated and award-winning actors, including Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Queen Latifah and Tyler Perry. Palmer has also made appearances on “ER,” “Cold Case” and “Law & Order.” Palmer is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children’s Program for her starring role on “True Jackson, VP.” She made Broadway history as the first African-American and youngest actress to star in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic 1957 musical, “Cinderella.”
Earlier this year, Palmer published her first book, “I Don’t Belong to You, Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice.” In the book, Palmer shares the roadblocks she has faced and knows many in her generation are facing today. She encourages the reader to become the hero of their own story.
The Rock the Lyceum lecture series is hosted by NCCU’s Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, along with the Lyceum Committee. The series brings in several of the nation’s top entrepreneurs and thought-leaders to engage students in relevant topics in education, entertainment, politics, and social justice. Past speakers include Angela Rye, T.I., Michael Vick, Roland Martin and Phylicia Rashad.
Public/media parking is available at the Latham Parking Deck, as well as the Miller-Morgan lot and on Lincoln Street. For more information, contact the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership at 919-530-5436.
MEDIA NOTE: Keke Palmer is available for interview on September 19, from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. To participate, RSVP to Chelsey Holts at [email protected].
