Kelsey Picken, Ph.D.

Kelsey joined The Dallas Foundation in May 2025 to further elevate its high standard of care in facilitating smart and easy ways for individuals, families, and advisors to build legacies that directly invest in the well-being of our next generation.

With a career devoted to the non-profit sector, Kelsey holds more than a decade of experience as a philanthropic advisor across various industries, including higher education, healthcare, and the arts, in the quest to bring more like-minded people together for the public good.

After living in Switzerland for seven years, Kelsey graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A.in both history and psychology. She then attended Western Illinois University for an M.A. in museum studies, and later concluded with a Ph.D. in cultural studies from Claremont Graduate University.

As a lifelong learner, Kelsey commits her free time to practicing ceramics, alongside traveling, reading, and writing. Expanding her commitment to philanthropic excellence, she also serves as a board member on the Dallas Council of Charitable Gift Planners and as Chair of Gift Planning on the Run.