Biography

Kelsey Waits graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology from Wellesley College. From there, her passion for research led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Statistics from the University of Connecticut. After her husband left military service, Kelsey and her family relocated to Minnesota where Kelsey completed a Master’s degree in Public Policy, with a concentration in Social Policy, from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. 

Kelsey is very involved in local politics. She is currently Chair of the Hastings School Board, she serves on various community committees, and she recently ran for State Representative.

Kelsey’s research interests stem from her own experiences with the political system. She is interested in organizational change, political reform, and the role that social movements and community empowerment can have in this process.

Outside of school, Kelsey enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, taking care of her beehives, and reading even more about politics.

Education

BA in Psychology (Wellesley College, 2008)

MS in Statistics (University of Connecticut, 2012)

MPP (Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2020)