Kristin O'Keefe

Kristin O’Keefe is the Director of Communications at the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, where she leads strategic communication initiatives across CEP programs. Kristin, the CEP team, and key partners collaborate on messaging and communication strategies that build and sustain urgency for systems change in higher education.

Her higher education career began at Montgomery College, where Kristin provided strategic communications guidance to multiple community college presidents. She also served as the vice president for communications and marketing at a county economic development organization, aligning with the college on key workforce development areas. As a communications consultant, Kristin developed content for educators, innovators, and funders; her own writing has appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others.

Kristin graduated with a B.A. in English from Wake Forest University and earned a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland.