Kelsey Donnellan, MPH
Director of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Projects
Kelsey M. Donnellan serves the International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2) as the Director of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Projects. She is an interdisciplinary and public health practitioner with over 10 years of experience prioritizing participatory and indigenous-led processes in her work. Her background is in brain health, health equity, and healthy aging. Prior to joining IA2, she worked at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), where she worked closely with the IA2 team to develop the first edition of the Healthy Heart, Healthy Brain communication materials, served as a reviewer of the first Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map for Indian Country, and facilitated a learning collaborative on heart health with tribal and state partnership teams.
Alongside her role at IA2, Kelsey is the founder of Little Pineapple Collaborative, a consulting firm that promotes health equity and improves quality of life through interdisciplinary strategic planning, facilitation, and program implementation. The company name is in honor of her grandmother, who taught her how to build inclusive communities and care for Elders.
Early in her career, she worked for the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) focusing on health insurance access and transgender affirming care, at several food justice organizations focusing on protection of foodways and power building with communities, and with her dad’s catering company. Kelsey received her Bachelor of Art in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Community Health and Nutrition from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She went on to complete a Master of Public Health degree from Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University. Outside of work, Kelsey lives in Baltimore with her dog, Olive, and is currently learning Hindi.
