Kelsey Kunkle joined SHEEO in May 2021 as a state policy intern. She currently serves as a policy analyst out of SHEEO’s Boulder office supporting the State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) project. Her research interests include higher education finance, access and affordability, and equity. Kelsey’s current research focuses on statewide community college promise programs, state appropriations to higher education, and the organizational identities of minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

Prior to joining SHEEO, Kelsey served in multiple student and academic affairs roles at the University of North Texas. In these positions, she primarily supported the academic transitions of community college transfer and returning adult students. Kelsey earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and master’s degree from Western Carolina University. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in higher education at the University of North Texas where she most recently served as a graduate research assistant prior to joining SHEEO.