Kelsey Louie, MSW, MBA

Kelsey Louie, MSW, MBA, is the chief executive officer of GMHC, the world’s first HIV and AIDS services organization. In this role, Kelsey oversees the agency’s $28-million budget as well as strategy, operations, fundraising, policy, and programmatic initiatives.

Kelsey joined GMHC in 2014, bringing a wealth of leadership experience in the human services field. His approach combines a rigorous data-driven management style, sophisticated evaluation processes, and commitment to staff development. Areas of expertise include HIV/AIDS prevention and care, behavioral health, addiction services, homelessness, LGBTQ+ issues, and family and children’s services.

At GMHC, Kelsey has created a unique service delivery model that emphasizes continuous quality improvement to build stronger programs, create efficiencies, and improve quality of services for GMHC clients. His contributions have included leading the acquisition of ACRIA, a research-based non-profit organization, as a subsidiary of GMHC; overseeing the relocation of GMHC’s headquarters to its current home that is saving the agency $600,000 annually in facility expenses; and implementing new programs such as the co-located pharmacy services, supportive housing, comprehensive STI testing, and the Terry Brenneis and David Boger Hub for Long Term Survivors. He also relaunched GMHC’s signature Buddy Program that provides peer-to-peer psychosocial support.

Through Kelsey’s leadership, GMHC has received awards such as the Gold Medal Prize for Organizational for Management Best Practices, Harvard Business School Club Community Partnership Leadership Award (2019); the Gold Medal Winner for Organizational Excellence, Non-Profit Coordinating Committee and New York Community Trust (2017); and the Organizational Excellence Award Winner, The Network of Social Work Management (2016); and the Partner Hero Award, HIV Experience Resources Organization (2015). He has been personally honored by the Power of Diversity: Asian 100 (2020); Health Power 100, City and State (2019, 2020); Pride Power 100 Honoree, City and State (2018, 2019, 2020); Pride 50 Trailblazers Honoree, Queerty (2019); and Pride 30 Honoree, NBC News (2018)—and more.

In 2014, Kelsey was appointed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Task force to End the AIDS Epidemic in New York State by 2020. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of NMAC (National Minority AIDS Council), the Network of Social Work Management, and iHealth, a statewide collaborative of community-based organizations united to advocate and negotiate on behalf of HIV Targeted Case Management Programs. He is an Advisory Board Member for the NYU College of Global Public Health, and strategic advisor for the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University. Kelsey is also a former board member of Big Apple Performing Arts, the umbrella organization of both the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus.

Kelsey has appeared on television networks such as NY1, ABC News, WCBS Radio and 101 WINS Radio, to discuss HIV/AIDS and other issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. He also has been featured in articles for Crain’s NY, POZ Magazine, and Plus Magazine, and has written op-eds for New York Daily News and the Advocate Magazine—and more.

Kelsey’s past professional titles include chief operating officer, chief program officer, and senior vice president of HIV/AIDS Treatment and Support Services at Harlem United Community AIDS Center, Inc., where he worked for seven years overseeing the agency’s $42-million budget and managing operations, administration, finance, development, programs, and healthcare services for thousands of clients annually.

Kelsey holds a master of social work from New York University and master of business administration from Columbia University. He is presently an adjunct professor at the NYU Silver School of Social Work.