Kellye Pinkleton has worked in the private, public, political, and non-profit sectors using her passion, extensive experience and knowledge of diverse populations and community organizations to bring about positive change, particularly to underserved communities.
Kellye is currently the Director of Public Policy for Companion Animals for The Humane Society of the United States. Previously she was the Arizona State Director for HSUS and upon moving to AZ in 2014, she worked as a lobbyist for a govt relations firm. Prior to relocating to Arizona, Pinkleton co-founded and served as the Political Director of Fair Elections Ohio from 2011- 2012. She served 4 years as the Director of the Voting Rights Institute, a division she created in the office of former Ohio Secretary of State (SoS), Jennifer Brunner. Kellye was the statewide Field Director for a successful SoS campaign after leaving Stonewall Columbus, a local lgbt rights organization, as interim Executive Director. Prior to her tenure at Stonewall, she worked for several local nonprofits. Following her undergraduate work at Wilmington College in 1994, she used her degree in Criminal Justice Studies with minors in Sociology and Political Science, to work in the Ohio prison system and was an SEIU 1199 delegate. She completed her master’s coursework in Criminal Justice Studies at Kent State University.
Kellye has been a volunteer and board member in various nonprofit and political organizations in Ohio and Arizona as well as an active alum of Wilmington College where she received an alumni achievement award of excellence in 2022 and served on the President’s Council for 8 years. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, playing tennis, cheering for her fave WNBA team the Phoenix Mercury, music, movies and comedy shows as well as time with her loved ones and partner of 28 years and their two cats.