Keli Christopher, Ph.D

Founding Chief Executive Officer, STEM Greenhouse
Woman of the Year

Dr. Keli Christopher is a trailblazing leader and educator dedicated to advancing STEM education for students of color. As the Founder and CEO of STEM Greenhouse, she champions the belief that nurturing curiosity in STEM leads to flourishing children. The third Black woman globally to earn a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering, her experiences fuel her drive to close the opportunity gap and diversify career paths for under-resourced youth.

Since STEM Greenhouse’s humble beginnings in 2014, Dr. Christopher has spent countless hours investing in the success of the girls and young women she teaches, whether it’s going to their basketball games, taking them on field trips or otherwise. What started as math clubs for girls at local libraries has grown into an organization that serves almost 1,000 students a year.

Dr. Christopher’s greatest accomplishments have been successfully advocating for change in philanthropic, educational and government systems, which in turn have resulted in more equitable funding for nonprofit organizations in our community. Her honors are many, including North Carolina A&T SU, Distinguished Alumni Award, the Nolan Groce Business Leadership Award, and the Dr. Melinda Sapp Legacy Award. Dr. Christopher’s work is a testament to the power of one person’s influence, transforming generations through education.

She shares, “All of my experiences—from being a little girl that struggled with her multiplication tables, to becoming valedictorian of Ottawa Hills High School, to the racism I experienced in graduate school, to losing my husband to cancer, and the challenges I faced leading a nonprofit—have all culminated to this point in time, where others can be blessed from the journey that I’ve been through. For someone to look at my journey and say it is deserving of honor is beyond anything I ever imagined.”