Jennifer Hill-Kelley is a senior higher education and organizational governance leader with expertise in institutional transformation, board development, and equity-centered student success. Her career spans working across community colleges, Tribal Colleges and Universities, nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments, with experience distinguished by strategic leadership, data-informed decision-making, and collaborative governance.

Jennifer currently serves as a Data, Equity, and Holistic Student Supports Coach with Achieving the Dream, partnering with community colleges and Tribal Colleges nationwide to strengthen institutional capacity, advance racial equity, and scale holistic student success strategies. Her work has supported multi-year transformation initiatives focused on improving student outcomes through the intentional use of data and cross-functional collaboration.

In addition to her higher education leadership, Jennifer has extensive board and governance experience, including leadership roles in corporate boards, nonprofit, foundation, and advisory boards. She has designed and facilitated governance and leadership development for board members, including training in fiduciary responsibility, budgeting, Robert’s Rules of Order, and effective oversight. Her governance expertise is informed by prior roles as a policy and legislative analyst, appellate court judge, and senior administrator overseeing complex, multi-departmental operations.

Jennifer holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, with doctoral coursework in First Nations Education. She has also taught public and nonprofit program evaluation, and is a frequent presenter on leadership, equity, and organizational effectiveness. Across all roles, she is recognized for bridging strategy and practice, strengthening governance systems, and helping institutions lead change in service of student and community success.