Montique Cotton Kelly, one of the nation’s leading alumni relations professionals with nearly two decades of service at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, has been appointed as the University of Connecticut’s assistant vice president for alumni relations and executive director of the UConn Alumni Association.

Her appointment begins June 13, 2014.

Cotton Kelly was selected following a nationwide search that involved several University and alumni leaders. Her vision for alumni engagement and her proven leadership skills in developing programs that result in meaningful, active, and lifelong connections between alumni and their University set her apart from other candidates.

“Mo,” as she is called by family, friends, and colleagues, will lead and work alongside a UCAA staff of 19 and hundreds of volunteers to engage and support more than 217,000 UConn alumni. She will work closely with University President Herbst and her leadership team, along with UConn Foundation President Josh Newton.

“I am very excited to be joining UConn at a time of incredible growth and positive change,” said Cotton Kelly. “Alumni will play a key role in the University’s journey forward. I can’t wait to get on campus and start making connections with alumni, students, and colleagues.”

A veteran alumni relations leader, Cotton Kelly comes to UConn from Bowling Green where she most recently served as executive director of the alumni association and director of alumni affairs since 2007. Prior to that, she held a number of positions there, including assistant and associate director of alumni affairs. Cotton Kelly began her career at Bowling Green as a counselor in the office of admissions.

With more than 18 years of alumni relations experience, Cotton Kelly has extensive experience in strategic planning, budget management, board development, program development, and fundraising.

“Montique is exactly the kind of alumni leader that UConn needs at this transformative period in our history,” said Herbst. “Her engaging style and charisma, combined with outstanding knowledge of her field and higher education in general, will be so critical in generating excitement among our alumni about all that is happening at their alma mater.

“The best universities in America have passionate alumni bases who want to be involved in the life of their University, and UConn and our alumni certainly fit that bill,” she added. “I’m confident Montique will help develop new ways to grow and forge those relationships on a broad scale.”

Cotton Kelly received both her B.S. and M.Ed. from Bowling Green. She is an active member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She and her husband, James, have a son, Lincoln (6), and daughter, Kenya (2).