Kellye Chinichian

BA, Art History, Purdue University, 2012
MA, Museum Studies, The George Washington University, 2014

Kellye Chinichian is the Assistant Director of Principal Gifts at the Smithsonian where she works across the Institution on transformational gifts of $5 million and above, with a particular focus on gifts that support two or more museums. Kellye provides strategic investment in individual prospecting and the development of the Office of Advancement’s nascent high-net-worth wealth advisor strategy. Kellye has 12 years of experience within the Smithsonian in progressively responsible positions, with the majority of her tenure supporting the Under Secretary for Science and Research. Kellye provided critical leadership in strategic engagement, project management, and administrative coordination to the Under Secretary, including stewardship on some of the Smithsonian’s largest principal gifts donors to science efforts. Kellye led the logistical implementation of the Under Secretary’s pan-Smithsonian Science strategy at international convenings. Kellye has Master of Arts in Museum Studies from The George Washington University with a focus in Nonprofit Management and Museum Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Purdue University.