Kimberly Churches

Kimberly Churches is the chief executive officer of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a leading voice in advancing equity for women and girls through education, advocacy, philanthropy, and research for more than 135 years.

Prior to joining AAUW in June 2017 Kimberly served as the managing director of the Brookings Institution, an internationally recognized public policy think tank. In that capacity she strategically guided Brookings, providing vision and problem-solving skills while focusing on expansive partnerships, external relations, and advancement.

Kimberly has also served as an associate vice chancellor at the University of Denver, a director of development at the University of North Florida, and a division director at the American Heart Association. She has extensive experience working collaboratively on education (K–12 and higher education) as well as on capacity building among grassroots groups and national and international nonprofits.

In addition to her work at AAUW, Kimberly currently serves as the chair of the BUILD Metro D.C. board, which demonstrates the power of experiential learning through entrepreneurship for underresourced communities, and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals PAC Board. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum of Washington, D.C., an organization that represents women leaders in diverse fields and whose mission is to further dynamic leadership and leverage global access to and maximize opportunities for women in 33 countries on 6 continents.

Kimberly is active in her daughter’s elementary school and is a devoted Washington Nationals fan.

She also serves as AAUW's main spokesperson, speaking with a variety of outlets including the Washington Post, CNBC, WTOP, and the Huffington Post while also writing articles for publication which have been included in Fortune and the New York Times.