Kelly Dennis

Kelly Dennis serves as Partnerships Strategist for the Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP), Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). She joins DOI on assigned detail from Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) through an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Agreement. As Partnerships Strategist, Kelly supports OSP Partnership Advisor to strengthen relationships with Tribal Nations, DOI, and Federal Bureaus to drive innovation through public-private partnerships. In addition, Kelly collaborates with colleagues at DOI to build relationships across philanthropy, non-profits, and the private sector wishing to develop partnerships with Tribal Communities to support Native-led conservation, economic development, and education initiatives. Kelly is an attorney who previously served a full two-year term as Councilwoman Secretary for the Shinnecock Indian Nation Council of Trustees elected governing body. Kelly also served on the first-ever DOI Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) and was appointed to be the Eastern Region Primary Representative during her term as a Tribal Leader. Kelly received her BA from Middlebury College and holds a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law with an American Indian Law Certificate.