NESsT Entrepreneur-in-Residence (November 2005 - May 2006; Santiago)

NESsTER Project: NESsT Venture Fund (Performance Management)

"I see social enterprise and venture philanthropy as dynamic emerging fields that offer the possibility of long-term and successful social change by blending the strategies and methods of business with the heart and dedication that fuels the non-profit sector. I believe that by utilizing the strongest elements of both sectors, it will be possible to facilitate the social changes that mission-driven organizations are dedicated to while keeping them afloat, effective, and sustainable."

Background: Kelly most recently worked as Program Associate with InterConnections 21, the nonprofit organization that coordinates the US chapter of UNESCO's Associated Schools Project. She collaborated with UNESCO officials, teachers, and students to design innovative educational approaches and materials on topics such as cultural and environmental sustainability, human rights, and the UN system. She was involved in the World Heritage in Young Hands program, a UNESCO initiative designed to engage students in the protection and preservation of unique and diverse World Heritage sites identified for their outstanding universal value to humanity.

Kelly graduated from Dartmouth College in 2003 with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. Her coursework focused on Social Systems, Human Ecology, and Psychology and she studied abroad at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her senior year, Kelly conducted independent field research in Huaraz, Peru on the social implications of Adventure Tourism in Huascarán National Park and won the Robert McKennan prize in Anthropology for her findings and thesis paper.

Kelly's interests lie in cross-cultural education, community development, and public land conservation. She enjoys exploring new places, spending time with her family, and balancing her intellectual pursuits with time in the mountains backpacking, biking, backcountry skiing, and guiding.

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