Shastity Sumter Harley, a native of Vance, South Carolina attended the public schools of Orangeburg County Consolidated School District. A 1997 graduate of Holly Hill-Roberts High School and a first-generation college graduate of the University of South Carolina (Columbia), Shastity obtained her Bachelor of Arts. degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, a Masters in Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from the University of Phoenix and has completed doctoral coursework in Higher Education and Leadership from Walden University.

Shastity has dedicated over 20 years securing federal and state grant funding and providing programmatic and financial oversight for K-12 and Higher Education initiatives focusing on college and career-readiness, STEM and STEAM programs, student-centered research, mentoring, and youth services. Shastity is an active member of Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church in Holly Hill, SC, a member of the Beta Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc. in Orangeburg, SC and is the founder of Divine Vision Consulting, LLC, which provides grant management and strategic planning services to various organizations.