Dr. Robin Kelley
Founder & President
Dr. Robin Kelley founded Kelley Consulting Firm in 2018 and is a scholar-practitioner with over 25 years of executive leadership experience across higher education, nonprofits, and consulting. She has held senior institutional roles at SUNY Buffalo, Iowa State University, NC State University, the UNC System, and Gonzaga University, where she served as Chief Diversity Officer at the vice-presidential level.
Her work includes employee relations, Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX compliance and investigations, as well as broader EEO consulting. This work is grounded in a single mission: building institutions that are both accountable and well-led.
With a deep understanding of organizational culture and dynamics, Dr. Kelley brings a strategic, collaborative, and practical approach to help institutions and organizations not only meet their compliance and investigative needs, but also develop stronger leadership, boards, and workplace cultures.
She holds EEO Investigator and Title IX certifications and is a trained Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), mediator, and has a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University.
EDUCATION
Doctorate of Philosophy, Iowa State University
Masters, State University of New York at Buffalo,
Bachelors of Science, State University of New York College at Buffalo
Leadership In Practice
Beyond her administrative roles, Dr. Kelley has left a meaningful mark on higher education through inspired teaching, innovative program development, and visionary leadership. She has built and led departments from the ground up, embedding accountability and people-centered culture strategies into the institutions she serves. She is deeply committed to sharing that expertise with mission-driven organizations dedicated to lasting, meaningful impact.
Certifications and Civic Engagement
Dr. Kelley’s qualifications are bolstered by a rich array of certifications, including the Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University, EEO Investigator Certification, and Title IX Coordinator certification. Additionally, Dr. Kelley is a trained Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and Cultural Competence (CQ) assessment. Dr. Kelley brings a rigorous, evidence-based approach to her work. She is a trusted voice featured in publications like The Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed, as well as her professional blog, Substack, and LinkedIn pages.
WOSB Certified
Women-Owned Small Business
WOSB Certified
Women-Owned Small Business
WBE Certified
Women Business Enterprise
WBE Certified
Women Business Enterprise
Diversity Management
Certificate
Cornell University
Diversity Management
Certificate
Cornell University
EEO Investigator Certification
Federal Sector EEO Investigations
EEO Investigator Certification
Federal Sector EEO Investigations
Intercultural Development
IDI Qualified Administrator
Intercultural Development
IDI Qualified Administrator
Your Journey Begins With Step One
Every engagement starts with listening. Kelley Consulting Firm designs custom workshops, investigations, audits, and leadership programs around your organization's specific mission, culture, and needs, grounded in research and best practice rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
Dr. Kelley provides on-site or off-site support to private, public, and nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, through project-based engagements, retainer partnerships, and fractional leadership roles.
Connect with Us Today. Let's Start the Conversation.
Whether you need help with accountability, compliance, investigations, leadership, or culture, we're ready to help.