Kelly Protho is a community engagement leader and strategic practitioner dedicated to advancing equitable, place-based partnerships between institutions and the communities they serve. As Director of the Community Engagement Center (CEC) in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, she leads initiatives that connect academic resources with community-identified priorities, fostering collaborative solutions that drive meaningful and measurable impact.
Kelly brings a strong background in public systems, nonprofit leadership, and community-centered program design. She previously served in a supervisory role at Macedonia FACE, where she led community-engaged work focused on strengthening relationships with residents, supporting inter-generational programming, and advancing initiatives that addressed critical needs across the Hill District. Her work there further deepened her commitment to grassroots engagement and community-driven solutions.
Prior to her role at Pitt, she also held positions within Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services, where she focused on advancing racial equity and implementing trauma-informed approaches through a non-clinical lens.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hampton University and a Master of Public Policy and Management from University of Pittsburgh.
Kelly is deeply committed to leadership that is both strategic and relational, bridging gaps between systems and communities while cultivating opportunities that support long-term sustainability and empowerment.
