Kelsey Piva

Kelsey Piva is a gender, equity, and social inclusion specialist with nearly a decade of experience advancing people-centered development programs in both domestic and international contexts. From empowering over 2,000 women leaders at U.S. universities to leading gender equality efforts in Tajikistan, Kelsey brings a unique blend of technical expertise and community-driven program design to her work.

Currently pursuing her Master’s in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University, Kelsey explores the intersection of gender and conflict through both academic research and applied practice. She most recently served as a Gender Consultant and Facilitator for USAID’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, designing flagship trainings, convening global experts, and drafting strategic implementation feedback for U.S. policy. Her previous roles span across the U.S. Institute of Peace, Catholic Relief Services, and the Center for Technical Excellence at University Research Co., where she helped codify Political Economy Analysis approaches.

Fluent in Russian and holding a BA in Russian Language and Culture from Columbia University, Kelsey has briefed Russian policymakers on higher education innovation and remains passionate about cross-cultural dialogue. She is deeply committed to inclusive program design, capacity building, and fostering systems that center equity at every level.