Points of View from Human Service Leaders: Kelsey Louie

Published In

Human Service Organizations Management Leadership & Governance

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

7-6-2020

Abstract

Kelsey Louie (MSW, MBA) is the Chief Executive Officer of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world’s first, and nation’s leading provider of HIV/AIDS care, prevention services, and advocacy. As CEO, Kelsey oversees all operational, programmatic, and strategic aspects of the organization. Each year, GMHC serves 12,000 people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, the epidemic’s largest U.S. epicenter. GMHC brings expertise to both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals, offering HIV and STI testing, nutrition counseling and hot meals, legal support services, supportive housing, mental health and substance use services, and workforce development. GMHC also advocates for stronger public policies at the local, state and federal level with the goal of ending AIDS as an epidemic in New York State by 2020. Kelsey’s rigorous, data-driven management style, sophisticated evaluation processes, and commitment to staff development have brought concrete, measurable results to the lives of thousands of clients and staff throughout his more than 15-year career in social services, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, behavioral health, addiction services, homelessness, LGBTQ issues, and family and children’s services. At GMHC, Kelsey has created a unique service delivery model, integrating robust evaluation processes and continuous quality improvement programs to build stronger programs, measurable outcomes, efficiencies, and greater quality of service to GMHC clients. In 2016, GMHC was the proud recipient of the 27th Annual Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) award for Organizational Excellence. Kelsey’s past professional titles include Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, and Senior Vice President of HIV/AIDS Treatment and Support Services at Harlem United Community AIDS Center, Inc., where he worked for seven years overseeing the agency’s 42 USD M dollar budget and managing operations, administration, finance, development, programs, and healthcare services to thousands of clients annually. Prior to Harlem United, Kelsey served as Director of Queens Family Support Services at New York Foundling, and Director of Prevention Services at Veritas Therapeutic Community. In 2014, Kelsey was appointed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Taskforce to End the AIDS Epidemic in NYS by 2020. He currently serves on the Board of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), and iHealth, a statewide collaborative of community-based organizations united to advocate and negotiate on behalf of HIV Targeted Case Management Programs. Kelsey is a former Board member of the Big Apple Performing Arts, the umbrella organization of both the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus. Kelsey received an MSW from New York University in 2001 and an MBA from Columbia University in 2008. He is an adjunct professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. Kelsey shared his reflections on April 27, 2020.

Description

Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited

DOI

10.1080/23303131.2020.1789800

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/34152

Share

COinS