Kelley O’Brien

Kelley O’Brien serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Corporate Communication at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, teaching business communication courses since 2011. She additionally instructs residential and online programs at the UNC School of Government and Graduate School while maintaining dual private-sector roles as senior partner at Elinvar (an executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organizations) and owner of KTO Strategy & Communications (providing strategy/fundraising support to public service entities).

Her academic credentials include:

• Master of Public Administration (MPA) from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Bachelor of Arts in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies (Urban Studies) from University of Georgia

Professor O’Brien’s expertise centers on business communication, nonprofit management, and public service strategy, informed by 20+ years of experience as a communicator, grant writer, and project manager in higher education and nonprofit sectors. Her professional development includes UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Executive Innovation Program and Harvard Design Thinking certification.

No scientific awards were documented in source materials.

While actively teaching business communication courses, the provided text specifies no graduate student advisees, research grants, or laboratory affiliations. Her community engagement includes board directorships at Frank Adoption Center and CommunityWorx.