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Kimberly Churches

Kimberly Churches' headshotCEO, American Association of University Women

Kimberly Churches is the chief executive officer of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a leading voice in advancing equity for women and girls through research, advocacy and education. Prior to joining AAUW, Kim was the managing director of the Brookings Institution. In that capacity, she strategically guided Brookings, providing vision and problem-solving skills while focusing on expansive partnerships, external relations and advancement. 

Kim also served as associate vice chancellor at the University of Denver, a director of development at the University of North Florida, and a division director at the American Heart Association. Kim is widely recognized for her success at working collaboratively in education, as well as for capacity-building for grassroots groups and national and international nonprofits.

In addition to her work at AAUW, Kim serves as the board treasurer of 1455, a virtual center for the literary arts. She is a board member of DC Girls Baseball, a competitive baseball league for girls ages nine to 18. Kim also serves as a director on the board of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, and is a member of the International Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C.

With her pragmatic approach, Kim is a dynamic and sought-after speaker at national conferences and conventions in many industries. She is regularly interviewed by top national media outlets and her insights on how to advance gender equity are routinely quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and more. She has also written for national media outlets, including CNN, The Hill and Fortune, and she is a columnist for MSNBC’s Know Your Value website.