Kelly Newell, Ph.D.

Two adults and two children all wearing WSU Cougar shirts.

ACADEMIC OUTREACH AND INNOVATION

Kelly Newell graduated from WSU in 1995 with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management, and began her career at WSU in 1996 working for Biological Systems Engineering. After 2 great years, she transferred to Conferences and Institutes (now Academic Outreach and Innovation) as a conference coordinator. Over the next 23 years, she was promoted through a number of positions to become the Director of Conference Management, and then moved to the more central position with AOI of Director of Program and Partner Development.

Van Doren Hall has been her home-away-from-home for 23 years (minus the Covid months), and it has been a joy to work for the fantastic leadership of AOI over that time. She has a passion for access to higher education for disadvantaged and marginalized communities, and enjoys working with departments and colleges to create new online programs for credit and non-credit audiences. A wife, mom of twin boys, avid athlete and lover of sports, Kelly also earned her Master’s from WSU in 2009 and her PhD in 2016 – Go Cougs!

Illustration of the Washington state topography.