Commencement Speaker

Kwabena Osei-Sarpong, a 2005 graduate of Radford University and global leader in clean energy innovation, returns to campus this spring as the keynote speaker for Radford’s 2025 Spring Commencement ceremonies May 9-10.

Osei-Sarpong is the founder and CEO of RIFE International, an award-winning clean tech and sustainability firm based in the Washington, D.C., area, with offices in Africa and operations in Asia and Europe. His work has taken him around the globe, including an appointment to the U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa. He has also advised the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he served on the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee.

He first arrived in the U.S. from Ghana as a teenager and credits Radford with shaping his future. As a student, he launched the Radford chapter of Enactus, an international entrepreneurship organization. The name he gave that group – RIFE, for Radford in Free Enterprise – would later inspire the name of his company.

"I’ve always had a passion for solving problems — not just to fix what's broken, but because it speaks to a deeper part of me that’s wired to create solutions, bring clarity to complexity and drive meaningful change,” Osei-Sarpong said. “Whether in business, sustainability, or community impact, I find purpose in identifying challenges and turning them into opportunities to make a real difference. Radford University gave me the foundation to tap into that innate calling, dream big, lead boldly and serve globally. Returning to deliver the commencement address is an incredible honor, and I hope to inspire graduates to embrace purpose-driven leadership and use their talents to create a better world.”

Osei-Sarpong's company has worked with clients such as the U.S. Department of Energy, Apple, Bank of America, the Smithsonian Institution and several universities. His impact spans sectors and continents, but he remains closely tied to Radford, where he serves on the advisory board for the Davis College of Business and Economics. His extensive board advisory roles also include The World Trade Center Institute Board, Maryland Clean Energy Council, Forbes Business Council and MD/DC District Export Council, among others.

President Bret Danilowicz said Osei-Sarpong’s success and commitment to service make him a fitting choice for this year’s commencement speaker.

“This is a powerful full-circle moment for Kwabena, returning to deliver the Radford University commencement address 20 years after he walked across the same stage on Moffett Quad as a new graduate,” Danilowicz said. “Kwabena embodies the very best of what we hope for in every Highlander graduate: a community-minded leader and innovative thinker who approaches challenges with both national insight and a global lens. His message—centered on service, sustainability, and the transformative power of everyday experiences—will no doubt inspire our graduates and their families as they prepare to make their own mark on the world.”

In recent years, Osei-Sarpong has been named among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Persons, received the Maryland International Business Leadership Award and Energy Innovator of the Year Award and was recognized by the Environment & Energy Leader 50. He is also a mentor, leadership coach and philanthropist whose company supports education initiatives for underserved communities in the United States and Africa.

He earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Radford and went on to a master’s degree in sustainable development from Georgetown University and executive education from Harvard Business School and the Tuck School of Business. In 2021, he received Radford’s Outstanding Alumnus Award.

His return to campus also has personal significance for Osei-Sarpong, who met his wife, Aurielle, while at Radford.