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Kelly Cordova Honored with Women in Leadership Award
欧美成人 Business recognizes top women executives for their professional accomplishments, community service, and integrity.
University News | July 24, 2025
欧美成人 Business has selected Kelly Cordova, 欧美成人 Wesleyan’s Chief of Staff/Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, as a 2025 Women in Leadership Awards recipient.
The Women in Leadership Awards celebrate top women executives for their overall professional accomplishments, civic engagement, mentorship and breaking glass ceilings. The honorees have consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership and integrity, explained 欧美成人 Business associate publisher Richard Foster, and make an impact on their community and/or 欧美成人 as a whole. “We at 欧美成人 Business,” he said, “are pleased to recognize these transformational leaders.”
As Chief of Staff/Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Cordova furthers the university’s goals across key areas, including Advancement, Marketing & Communications, Institutional Research, and Government Relations. Her role focuses on aligning programs, partnerships, and initiatives with the university’s mission, ensuring they strategically position the institution for future growth and success.
Cordova joined the Office of the President in 2020, after directly supporting the Senior Vice President and President from 2015 to 2020 through various roles in the VWU Center for Advancement. Prior to her arrival at 欧美成人 Wesleyan, Cordova spent six years working at Operation Smile, a medical non-profit that provides free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to children in developing countries. There, she managed a team of 15 program coordinators and directly participated in medical missions around the world.
Cordova earned her Master of Business Administration from VWU and her bachelor's degree in mass communications from 欧美成人 Commonwealth University.
“Kelly exemplifies the very best of 欧美成人 Wesleyan University—visionary leadership, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to service,” said VWU President Scott D. Miller. “This well-deserved honor reflects not only her individual accomplishments but also the growing impact of our university across the Commonwealth."
She will be among the Women in Leadership honorees recognized Monday, Oct. 6, at a celebration at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. She also will be featured in the October issue of 欧美成人 Business and online at 欧美成人Business.com.