Maria Kellett currently serves as the Dean of the Cape May County Campus of Atlantic Cape Community College. In this role, she provides executive leadership and direction for all college efforts in Cape May County, and serves as the primary liaison between the college, Cape May County government and the community at large. Over her thirteen years at the Cape May campus, she has built strong relationships with the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, and business and civic leaders. In her role as Associate Dean of Resource Development, she oversees the execution of all fundraising activities including Atlantic Cape Foundation events, alumni engagement, and grant development. As the Associate Director of the Atlantic Cape Foundation, Maria managed the college’s first Comprehensive Capital Campaign that raised over $3 million.
Since mid-2019, she has also overseen the implementation of an Innovation Challenge Grant awarded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and a subsequent USDA grant, partnering with Cape May County on efforts to spur new economic development and the creation of a local business resource center known as bizHub that will benefit new and existing businesses, complement current economic development projects and offer centralized access to vital educational and informational resources.
Prior to working at Atlantic Cape Community College, Maria worked at The Wetlands Institute coordinating the Wings & Water Festival and other fundraising initiatives. She led several nonprofit organizations as Executive Director in New York City and San Francisco. Maria currently serves on the board of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Cape May County Women’s Advisory Committee. In addition to over thirty years of education, management, non-profit and fundraising experience, Maria holds a BA in communications from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an MBA from San Francisco State University. Maria is a New Jersey native and has lived in Cape May County for the past 20 years.
