Kelley Prust began her career in marketing and communications writing show synopses for NBC’s “Must See TV” while attending the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. With those short-and-sweet blurbs about Friends, Frasier, and Will & Grace, her career telling stories was born.

Over the next two decades, Kelley built a career in marketing, communications, and brand storytelling across a range of industries. Her work has taken her from telling the story behind the best gluten-free cupcakes at Whole Foods Market to sharing how researchers at The University of Arizona discovered evidence of water on Mars. She entered higher education as Director of Marketing and Interactive Media for The University of Arizona’s alumni and donor market, leading communications designed to engage the university’s global community.

Following her time at The University of Arizona, Kelley founded Life Launch by Kelley, a career development company dedicated to helping college women successfully transition from campus to career. Through virtual workshops, speaking engagements, and career resources, she helped thousands of women build the skills and confidence to launch their professional lives. Kelley spoke to students at universities across the country, including The University of Texas at Austin, UCLA, Texas A&M University, and the University of Miami.

Today, Kelley brings her background in marketing, higher education, entrepreneurship, and storytelling to the Doerr Institute for New Leaders, where she helps share the Institute’s work and impact with audiences at Rice University and beyond.

At the heart of her work is a love of finding the story that makes people pay attention—and telling it in a way that inspires them to take action.