Kellie O’Connell ‘94

The following bio was published in September 2025

Kellie O’Connell ‘94 is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois, leading humanitarian response and community preparedness across Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, serving over 12.2 million people. With more than two decades of nonprofit leadership, Kellie has focused on expanding access to vital resources for underserved communities. Previously, she was CEO of Nourishing Hope, where she launched Chicago’s first online food pantry and led a large-scale COVID-19 hunger relief effort. Kellie’s leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the Mayor's Medal of Honor and a Chicago Innovation Award.