Kelli Wilson Begay (Kickapoo / Seminole / Muscogee Creek), Vice President of Strategy & Operations
Kelli Wilson Begay, MBA, MS, RDN belongs to the Kickapoo, Seminole, and Muscogee (Creek) tribes. She is an auntie, entrepreneur, dietitian, and cultural connection builder for Indigenous communities. For the past 20 years, she has been dedicated to resolving and highlighting social determinants of health, and how they relate to lifespan discrepancies, through the lens of Indigenous worldviews. Kelli has worked with organizations large and small, from government agencies to tribal leaders on nutrition, cultural competency, community engagement, and program development. Kelli is the current Vice President of Strategy and Operations for Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), where she oversees programs and leads teams. She has recently provided leadership of responsive shifts in offerings at NAP for Indian Country during one of the most challenging times in recent history, including the pandemic health crisis, the social/racial reckoning, and environmental crisis. As an Indigenous woman, Kelli has an in-depth understanding of the unique qualities within Indian Country and embraces her work through innovative strategies that uplift and best serve Indigenous communities.