Kalen Russell joined ThinkTennessee as External Relations Associate in September 2021. In this role, she helps develop social media messaging strategies and supports ThinkTennessee’s fundraising initiatives.  

Previously, Kalen served as Communications Manager for the League of Women Voters of Tennessee, where she used social media and grassroots organizing to scale the organization’s reach, build partnerships, and support voter registration and voter education. She has interned for The Housing Fund, Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA), and the Metro-Nashville Planning Department.

Kalen is passionate about equity and inclusion, community-centered practice, and innovative communications, and in 2020, she was awarded Peabody’s College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.

Kalen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master’s in Education from Vanderbilt University. Though originally from Oklahoma, Kalen fully embraces the excitement, culture, and food of Music City!