Alicia Olivares Kirkeby, is the Senior Associate Director of Outreach and Engagement, after joining HERS as the Event Manager and Board Relations Coordinator in May 2022. Her duties as the Event Manager and Board Relations Coordinator included the end-to-end planning of HERS programs in different geographies and providing high-level administrative support to the HERS Board of Directors. Kirkeby is currently responsible for engaging, connecting, and cultivating an active HERS alumnae community led by volunteer alumnae leaders, planning strategic events and programming to inspire lifelong engagement and philanthropy with the organization.
Prior to joining HERS, Kirkeby was the Director of Alumni Engagement for the Josef Korbel School of International Studies (Korbel School) at the University of Denver. In this role, Kirkeby fostered lifelong connections to the Korbel School with the 7,500+ global alumni community, implemented strategic engagement activities, led a 32-member international alumni council, and worked closely with key University partners to support the efforts of alumni communities worldwide. Kirkeby oversaw over 22 events annually, including multiple diplomatic and event protocol arrangements for heads of state, senior government officials, and high-level national and international delegations.
Kirkeby also held the position of Director of Admissions – Worldwide for Up with People an international leadership program for college-aged youth that combined extensive world travel, community outreach and service projects, performance art training, and host family learning opportunities. In this role, she oversaw 23 enrollment professionals and worked and traveled in over 18 countries.
Originally from Colombia, South America, Kirkeby has lived in Brussels, Belgium, Esbjerg, Denmark, and has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe. Kirkeby received a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University and M.A. in Business Communications and Public Relations from the European University in Brussels, Belgium. Kirkeby currently resides in Denver with her family and enjoys traveling at any opportunity, reading, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
