Mathew Kelley

About Mathew Kelley

I care deeply about health, justice, and what’s possible when we learn from each other across communities and borders. My background spans public health, policy, and communications, with experience in China, Singapore, the U.S, and the UN system. Currently, I support the International Health Policy and Practice Innovations team at The Commonwealth Fund, where I help lead the Harkness Fellowship and broader efforts to strengthen health systems through cross-national learning and research. Before this, I worked with the UNDP HIV and Health team, focusing on health governance, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, human rights, and partnerships with civil society.What ties it all together is a deep belief in health as a human right and in the power of storytelling, research, and cross-country learning to drive change. I’m committed to using my time and energy to push for a more just, compassionate world, especially with and for those too often left out of the conversation.

Experience

1. Acting Director, Harkness Fellowship

   The Commonwealth Fund

   Feb 2026 — Present

Education

• Brown University

  BA, East Asian Studies

  2010 — 2014

• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

  Master's Degree, International Affairs

  2018 — 2020

• Beijing Normal University

  Chinese

  2012 — 2012

Skills

• Journalism
• Film
• Microsoft Office
• Translation
• Higher Education
• Social Media Marketing
• Creative Writing
• Microsoft Word
• Digital Photography
• Writing
• Social Media
• Fundraising
• Event Planning
• Editing