Wheaton Blog

Joshua “Josh” Kelly ’17
Member-At-Large
Alumni Board of Directors

Professional Background:
Town Manager & CEO, Winchester/Winsted, CT, 2021 – PresentTown Administrator, Bolton, CT, 2019 – 2021
Town Manager’s Intern & Management Analyst, Windsor, CT, 2018 – 2019
Campaign Manager, Mirna for 39th, New London, CT, 2019
Campaign Manager, Baird for 38th, Waterford, CT, 2018

Professional Honors & Awards:
Albert G. Ilg Fellowship in Local Government Award ~ Dept. Public Policy, University of Connecticut, 2019
Joseph M. and Susan Stampler Paresky ’68 Fellowship ~ Wheaton College, 2017
Best Delegate Award ~ Five College Model United Nations – 2016 & 2017
Who’s Who Among American College & Universities Winner ~ 2015
Peggy R. Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership ~ Ithaca College, 2015
Ithaca College Leadership Scholar ~ Ithaca College, 2013 – 2015
Eagle Scout Award ~ Waterford, CT Troop 29, August, 2013

Other Board Experience:
Connecticut Town & City Managers’ Association Board of Director; Member, Hartford, CT, 2021 – Present
Warner Theater Board of Directors; Member, Torrington, CT, 2021 – Present
Northwest Hills Council of Governments Policy Board; Member, Goshen, CT, 2021 – Present
Connecticut Council of Small Towns Board of Directors; Member, West Hartford, CT, 2020 – Present
Eastern Highlands Health District Board of Directors; Member, Mansfield, CT, 2019 – 2021
Bolton Lakes Regional Water Pollution Control Authority; Alternate; Bolton, CT, 2019 – 2021
Representative Town Meeting, Minority Leader; Waterford, CT, 2017 – 2019
Long Range Fiscal Planning Committee; Member; Waterford, CT, 2017 – 2019
RTM Legislation & Administration Committee; Chair; Waterford, CT, 2017 – 2019
Conservation Commission; Commissioner; Waterford, CT, 2016 – 2020
Zoning Board of Appeals; Alternate; Waterford, CT, 2015 – 2017

Alumni Volunteer History:
Wheaton College Model United Nations Alumni Association, Founder & Board of Directors, 2020 – Present

Wheaton Activities and Volunteer Experience:
Gentlemen Callers, Member & Co-Pitch, 2015 – 2016
Political Science Departmental & Research Assistant, 2015 – 2016
Model United Nations, Re-Founder & Head Delegate, 2015 – 2017
Admissions Intern, Summer, 2016
Babe Lincoln Magazine, Editor & Writer, 2016
House of Residents Engaged in Political Science (REPS), 2016
Civic Engagement & Political Activism Intern, SSSR, 2016 – 2017
Student Government Association (SGA), Senator-at-Large, 2016 – 2017
WheaMUN High School Conference, Founder & Chief Organizer, 2017
Resident Advisor, Beard & Meadows (BAM), 2017

Academic Background:
Master of Public Administration, University of Connecticut, 2019
Graduate Certificate in Public Financial Management, University of Connecticut, 2019
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Wheaton College, 2017

Wheaton’s Influence:
“I first came to Wheaton thanks to well-timed encouragement from my mother, Deb Roselli Kelly ’86, but I stayed and now continue to be involved for the wonderful connections and endless love of learning that Wheaton instilled in me.

Wheaton, its faculty and staff, and my fellow students gave me the support and confidence that I needed to pursue my dreams and realize that those dreams were more attainable than I could have imagined. Thanks to Wheaton, I ran for office at the age of 20, was encouraged to explore careers at all levels of government through my studies, and ultimately pursued my Masters in Public Administration and became a Town Administrator, landing my ideal job less than three years following my graduation. Beyond that, I have been truly fortunate to keep in touch with dozens of friends with Wheaton over the past few years, some of them continuing to be my closest friends and confidants.

Wheaton has given me everything, and truly the least I can do is give back my time and offer up the skills that were so well-developed by the college. It’s a true honor to serve among so many selfless and giving fellow alumnae and alumni.”

Fun Fact:
“During my time at Wheaton, I helped craft boats for the 2016 and 2017 Head of the Peacock races for the Model United Nations team. As a result of one of those endeavors, the college decided to add a new rule that has been applied to each Head of the Peacock race since then. I bet you can’t guess which one!”

Categories:
• Alumni