Kelly Toves is a communications professional with extensive experience in media relations, writing, editing, event planning and social media.
In Ms. Toves’ role as senior public relations manager at R4D, she oversees media relations and social media and serves as the editor of R4D Insights, the thought leadership blog for R4D’s experts and partners.
Before R4D, Ms. Toves was the communications officer for media relations at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, where she led the development of external communications, including press releases, op-eds and stakeholder emails, and worked to generate regular, strategic media coverage of Sabin’s advocacy initiatives and programs. In this position, she also helped organize a journalist site visit in Odisha, India, to draw attention to one of the world’s largest public health campaigns against lymphatic filariasis.
Prior to Sabin, Ms. Toves worked as the communications manager at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, where she managed media outreach, web content development and social media efforts. Ms. Toves also worked as the press secretary for Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this role, she served as an on-the-record spokesperson, wrote statements, speeches and op-eds, and managed the congresswoman’s presence in local, national and international media markets. In addition, she was responsible for several legislative portfolios, including health care and women’s issues.
Ms. Toves holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from American University.
