We are excited to announce that the Degrees of Change (DoC) board of directors has appointed Kelly Bay-Meyer as our next chief executive officer. Current CEO Marquise Dixon will transition out after September.
Kelly, who has a ten-year history at Degrees of Change in multiple key roles, serving as Chief Operations Officer for the past four years, will assume her new role on October 1, 2025.
“I couldn’t be more excited for Kelly to step into the CEO role,” said Marquise Dixon. “Her steady leadership, deep knowledge of our work, and unwavering commitment to equity and impact make her the right person to guide Degrees of Change into its next chapter.”
Kelly is a first-generation college student who earned a B.A. with distinction from the University of Virginia and received a full-ride fellowship to pursue her master’s and doctoral degrees from Brown University.
After graduating, she returned home to lead and serve, teaching research methods and courses on social justice at Seattle University before shifting to applied research at the College Success Foundation (CSF).
In 2015, deeply compelled by DoC’s mission and impact, Kelly made a leap of faith and left her well-established position at CSF to become the fourth employee at Degrees of Change.
Kelly Bay-Meyer facilitating a speaker panel at the Degrees of Change 2025 Spring Fundraiser. (Photo by Sharon Ho Chang)
For the past decade, Kelly has served in multiple key roles at Degrees of Change and supported every aspect of the organization, including Research and Evaluation Director, Operations Director, and Chief Operations Officer – and now, Chief Executive Officer.
“I’m deeply honored and excited to lead and serve Degrees of Change as CEO,” Kelly said. “As a first-generation college student from a lower income family, our mission is deeply personal to me. I’m eager to continue growing college to career pathways for our young people and promoting community-minded leaders in every sector.”
As Chief Executive Officer, Kelly will focus on centering students, delivering high-impact programs, ensuring financial durability, and caring for staff. In 2025-26, Degrees of Change will co-create a bold three-year strategic plan with community to stay mission-driven and future-ready.
“The Board is thrilled to welcome Kelly as Chief Executive Officer,” said Jacob Anderson, Board Chair. “With over a decade of leadership at DoC, she is exceptionally well prepared to guide the organization forward. Her commitment to our mission, team, and the communities we serve is clear.”
Featured image: Kelly Bay-Meyer (center) posing with board members (left) and program participants (right) at the Degrees of Change 2025 Spring Fundraiser. (Photo by Sharon Ho Chang)
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