NASW President (2006-2009)
James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW
James J. Kelly, PhD, ACSW,
became the President of Menlo College on January 1, 2011. He had served as the college’s Executive Vice President and Provost since 2007, having overseen its reaffirmation of accreditation, implementation of its mission as a business school, and entrance into candidacy for accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Dr. Kelly joined Menlo College after serving as interim Provost of California State University, East Bay, and concurrently as the Associate Vice President for Continuing and International Education. As Associate Vice President, he oversaw a domestic executive MBA program, as well as international MBA programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Moscow, Beijing, Vienna, and Graz (Austria), and a CPA program in Japan. He started and administered the East Bay Small Business Development Center for Alameda County, California, with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Dr. Kelly was responsible for international student recruitment, retention, and housing.
He has create 38 publications and 109 presentations and has garnered $35 million in grants, contracts, endowments, and gifts, primarily through community collaborations in the child welfare and aging areas. Former consultant to the United Nations, he is a strong advocate for social justice. He received his PhD from Brandeis University and his MSSW from the University of Tennessee.
He was President, NASW California Chapter, and active in Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Hawaii Chapters. He is past-President, California Institute of Mental Health; Board Member, National Network for Social Work Managers; and Founding Editorial Board Member, Journal of Women and Aging. He was named 1987 National Social Worker of the Year for work in developing services for people with AIDS. He is a member of the NASW Social Work Pioneers.