Kellie Kreiser

As the Executive Director of Global Development, Kellie Kreiser oversees the School's efforts to secure funding and resources to develop social impact projects and faculty research. A Thunderbird alumna, Kreiser joined the School in 2005 and created an initiative that designs business education programs for base-of-the-pyramid learners. Thunderbird provides learning experiences for non-traditional students who utilize business and management skills to fight poverty, secure peace, and improve living conditions in their communities.

Ms. Kreiser has been responsible for the design, fundraising, and implementation of business training programs that have taught over 225,000 people globally. In-country program operations have been established in Afghanistan, Peru, Chile, and Central America, while virtual programs have served students from over 135 different countries. Ms. Kreiser has also been instrumental in creating deep partnerships with leading organizations in both the public and private sectors. Under her direction, Thunderbird became the first partner school in Goldman Sachs’ prestigious 10,000 Women Initiative (Afghanistan and Peru).

Ms. Kreiser has extensive experience developing successful online learning programs. She helped to create a partnership with Freeport-McMoRan Inc. which has resulted in DreamBuilder, an innovative online training program for aspiring business women globally, and DreamCatcher, a training program for Native American women entrepreneurs. In 2019, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) selected DreamBuilder as the core curriculum for their Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). The program operates through U.S. Embassies in 100+ countries.

Ms. Kreiser has served as a member of the Advisory Committee for the State Department's Equal Futures Partnership initiative, on multiple APEC Women in the Economy delegations, and for various UN Women convenings. She represents Thunderbird’s Project Artemis program for Afghan women for the U.S. Afghan Women's' Council, an initiative spearheaded by First Lady Laura Bush.

Prior to Thunderbird, Ms. Kreiser's experience was in international marketing and sales, working in Europe and Asia. She holds an MBA in International Management with Distinction from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BS with Honors and Distinction in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University.