NEASC2024

Kerci Marcello Stroud is a seasoned communicator who has helped great leaders and organizations tell their story and build connections with their audiences for over twenty years.

Before joining The Perry Group, Kerci served as Rhode Island School of Design’s chief marketing and communications officer. She led a dynamic marketing and communications team that was charged with fostering meaningful relationships with the institution through storytelling, public relations, brand cultivation and digital strategy. Kerci oversaw the creation and execution of RISD’s communications strategy with a focus on demonstrating the institution’s commitment to being proactively anti-racist and advancing its ambitious vision to bring creative practices to bear on today’s most critical social, political and environmental challenges. She also headed crisis communications and served on RISD’s emergency operations command team. Under her leadership, the team bolstered RISD’s reputation around the globe and created RISD’s first-ever and award-winning brand identity.

Prior to her tenure at RISD, Kerci held several positions at Teach For America, culminating in her role as the nonprofit’s vice president of communications. She directed communications nationally and in the organization’s then-46 regions to amplify awareness and garner support for TFA’s mission to end educational inequity. Kerci also worked for then-New York City Council Member Bill de Blasio, initially running his district office and later serving as his chief of staff. In this position, she worked on a broad spectrum of district, citywide and legislative issues in close collaboration with community leaders and city agencies, with a particular focus on educational initiatives in the Council member’s Brooklyn district. She also assisted with several local and national political campaigns.

A native Rhode Islander, Kerci holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University. She serves on the boards of Sophia Academy and Rocky Hill Country Day School and she is a member of United Way of Rhode Island’s Community Advisory Board.