Kelley O'Brien has more than 15 years of experience as a communicator, grant writer, project manager, and administrator in higher education and nonprofits. As owner and principal of KT Strategy & Communications, Kelley works with public and private organizations to articulate strategic priorities, develop program plans, create content, manage complex projects, and secure funding. Kelley is also a strategic search partner at Elinvar, a Raleigh-based executive search firm that matches mission-driven leaders with mission-driven organizations. She holds adjunct appointments at the UNC–Chapel Hill Graduate School and Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to launching her own firm in 2016, Kelley was director for strategy and innovation at the School of Government and led a statewide K-12 education program. She holds a master of public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor of arts in honors interdisciplinary studies, urban studies from the University of Georgia. More recently, she has completed the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Executive Program in Innovation and Harvard Division of Continuing Education's Design Thinking Program.
