Kelli Palmer is a strategist and business leader with expertise in ESG (environmental|social|governance); diversity, equity, and inclusion; philanthropy; people and systems management; and politics.
Her talent for developing strategy and translating it into action have allowed her to serve organizations ranging from institutions of higher education to leading membership organizations and non-profit start-ups. In these roles, she improves business processes and operations; builds policies and procedures; creates and oversees high-talent and diverse teams; and aligns business goals with corporate citizenship opportunities.
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About/Bio
Education: Kelli was raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, and attended Elon University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. A devoted alumna, she is a member of the Board of Trustees. She received her Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from Wake Forest University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia. A lifelong learner, she studied at Oxford University and has earned graduate certificates from Boston College and Harvard University.
Board service/volunteerism: Kelli is an active contributor on numerous local and state nonprofit Boards, including the Community Climate Collaborative (C3) and Peabody School. She has previously served as a member of the Boards of the United Way of Greater Charlottesville, Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, Live Arts, Piedmont Virginia Community College Foundation, and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, among others.
Community member: Kelli is a proud, long-term resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, where she resides with her husband and their children. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is a classically trained vocalist and former member of the Washington Opera Company.
Analytical
Kelli is passionate about data and its implications, be it quantitative or qualitative. She perceives and acts on trends and insights that few are able to identify.
RElator
Kelli is a hub of knowledge and relationships, and as a businesswoman and community member, she builds rapport and creates relationships with and between people from all corners of the community.
Input-seeker
Kelli seeks and gains inputs from a wide array of sources before making strategic decisions. Her expertise in diversity and inclusion allow her to pay keen attention to areas and inputs that others may overlook. As a scholar and businesswoman, she is skilled at developing tools for soliciting input, interpreting feedback, and translating these inputs into strategy and action.
Deliberative
Kelli’s vigilant understanding of risk—including reward—allow her to make quality decisions and ensure that all eventualities have been accounted for during each phase of a project or organizational change.
Strategic
Kelli is a strategist to her core, and excels at translating input into planning; and planning into action.
Scholarship
Kelli’s work has been published in the halls of academia and far beyond—see some of her written work:
Driving Change: Diversity and Inclusion in Investment Management